617 Squadron [entry point]

617 Squadron [entry point]

The Dam Busters; X Squadron [entry point]

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Led by Guy Gibson 617 Squadron was formed at RAF Scampton in March 1943 specifically to attack the Eder, Möhne and Sorpe dams with the bouncing bomb invented by Barnes Wallis and carried by modified Lancasters. The squadron was retained as a precision bombing unit and moved, via a spell at RAF Coningsby, to RAF Woodhall Spa in January 1944. Under the leadership of Leonard Cheshire the squadron pioneered low level marking techniques using Mosquitos and a P-51. Modified Lancasters used the 12000 lb Tallboy bomb against the Saumur rail tunnel, submarine pens, V-weapons sites and the Tirpitz. The squadron was the only one to use the 22,000 lb Grand Slam bomb targeting railway viaducts and submarine pens in 1945.

Refinements (item type)
   
Artwork                            Text
Map                                Text. Correspondence
Map. Navigation chart and log      Text. Diary
Moving image                       Text. Log book and record book
Photograph                         Text. Memoir
Physical object                    Text. Personal research
Physical object. Clothing          Text. Poetry
Physical object. Decoration        Text. Service material
Sound                              Text. Training materialTechnical aid

Refinements (role):

pilot             wireless operator 
navigator         wireless operator / air gunner 
bomb aimer        air gunner 
flight engineer   observer

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