RAF - Bomber Command No.617 Squadron Bomber Command No.617 Squadron No. 617 Squadron Motto: "Aprés moi, le deluge" ("After me, the flood"). Badge: On a roundel, a wall in fesse, fracted by three flashes of lightning in pile and issuant from the breach, water proper. Authority: King George VI, March 1944. The squadron was formed on 21st March 1943, at Scampton, near Lincoln, under the command of Wing Commander Guy Gibson, who had distinguished himself as an outstanding bomber and night-fighter pilot during the early war years. He was granted the unprecedented privilege of selecting crews from other squadrons of Bomber Command to fly Lancasters on a special, highly-secret operation. Gibson himself was not told for some weeks that the task was no less than the breaching of the Möhne, Eder and Sorpe dams, which stored more than 300 million tons of water vitally important to German industry. For the dams raid-known as Operation Chastise-No.

617 put up 19 Lancasters, each modified to carry a special mine designed expressly for the purpose by Dr. Barnes Wallis of Vickers-Armstrong. To breach the dams the mines had to be released from precisely 60 feet, at a speed of exactly 220 m.p.h. (or, in the case of the Sorpe Dam, from the lowest practicable height and at 180 m.p.h.). The first Lancaster took off from Scampton shortly before 9.30 p.m. on 16th May 1943, and Wing Commander Gibson's aircraft, the first to attack the Möhne Dam, released its mine at 28 minutes past midnight. Half an hour later, just after the fifth Lancaster had attacked, Gibson radioed back to England the prearranged code-word Nigger, indicating that the dam had been breached. (Nigger was the name of Gibson's black Labrador dog, beloved of all the squadron, who was killed by a car the day before the raid and buried at Scampton.) The remaining aircraft of the Möhne formation then flew on to the Eder Dam.

The first two mines failed to breach the dam, but shortly before 2am, when the third Lancaster had attacked, Gibson signalled the code-word Dinghy, indicating success with the second part of the operation. Other aircraft attacked the Sorpe and Schwelme Dams but did not succeed in breaching them. Of the 19 Lancasters which took off for the dams raid with their 133 men, eight did not return. Five crashed or were shot down en route to their targets. Two were destroyed while delivering their attacks and another shot down on the way home. Two more were so badly damaged that they had to abandon their missions. For his gallantry in this raid, Wing Commander Gibson-who afterwards wrote a vivid account of the whole operation in his book Enemy Coast Ahead-received the Victoria Cross and 32 other members of the squadron were also decorated. (In August 1943, Gibson relinquished command of the squadron and visited America with Winston Churchill. Gibson failed to return from an attack on Rheydt, Germany, on 19/20th September 1944, when he was flying as master bomber-in a Mosquito of No.

627 Squadron-to direct the bombing of a force of Lancasters.) In one operation No. 617 Squadron-known from this time onwards as the "Dam Busters" had become famous and the decision was made to keep it in existence as a precision-bombing unit. It was re-equipped with Lancasters of the standard type (B.I and IIIs) and returned to operations on 15/16th July 1943, with a raid on two power stations in Northern Italy. All the aircraft landed at Blida in North Africa. On the return journey, on 24/25th July, Leghorn was attacked. In August the squadron moved to Coningsby and on 15/16th September 1943, the Dortmund-Ems canal was attacked, the 12,000 lb. HC (high-capacity) bomb being used for the first time. Like the dams raid, this operation cost the squadron very heavy casualties; out of a total force of eight Lancasters despatched, only three returned. On the following night the Antheor viaduct on the French-Italian border was attacked. The viaduct was again attacked in November.

In the early part of 1944, No. 617 made a series of pin-point attacks against factories in France which were reluctantly working for the enemy war effort, where the object was to ensure maximum damage with the minimum loss of French lives. The CO at this time was Wing Commander GL Cheshire and it was through a low-level marking technique which he evolved that the squadron gained a high reputation for accurate bombing at night. Another remarkable operation undertaken by the "Dam Busters" played an important part in the successful landings in Normandy on D-Day, 6th June 1944. Known as Operation Taxable it was the simulation of a large "ghost" convoy of ships crossing the narrowest part of the English Channel. Eighteen small naval vessels steamed towards France at seven knots, and to make their radar response correspond to that created by a large convoy, the Lancasters of No. 617 flew overhead in a continuous wide orbit, gradually nearing the French coast. Every four seconds throughout the three-and-a-half hours of the operation, bundles of Window (small metal strips which produced a false echo on the enemy radar screens) were thrown out of the aircraft.

Meticulous timing was necessary, as an error of only four seconds would have been sufficient to make the "convoy" look suspect. As the last Lancaster turned for home its crew had the satisfaction of seeing the German guns open radar-predicted fire on the non-existent convoy. Meanwhile the real invasion force was nearing the coast many miles away. A few days later the "Dam Busters" made another notable contribution to the success of the invasion, when the first 12,000lb Tallboy bombs were dropped on the Saumur railway tunnel in Northern France, cutting an important enemy supply line. In September 1944, the squadron operated from an advanced base in Russia against the German battleship Tirpitz, and a second attack was made in October from an advanced base in Scotland. On 12th November 1944, in conjunction with No. 9 Squadron (which had also participated in the two previous attacks) the ship was attacked for the third time and was capsized in Tromsö fjord, Norway. All three attacks on the Tirpitz were led by Wing Commander JB "Willy" Tait, who had succeeded Wing Commander Cheshire as CO of No.

617 Squadron in July 1944. Further attacks on dams were made in October/December when the Kembs and Urft dams were attacked; the Kembs dam was successfully breached. On 14th March 1945, a Lancaster of No. 617 Squadron (PD112 "S-Sugar", a B.I (Special)) captained by Squadron Leader CC ("Jock") Calder, dropped the first of the 22,000lb Grand Slam bombs - the biggest high-explosive bombs developed by any country during the war - to wreck the Bielefeld railway viaduct in Germany. The last operation by the squadron was an attack on Hitler's famous mountain retreat - "the Eagle's Nest" - at Berchtesgaden. During its comparatively short period of active service No. 617 won 2 VCs and more than 150 other decorations. Bases, etc. Formed 21.3.43 as No. 617 (Bomber) Squadron Scampton, Lincs : May 1943-Aug 1943 Coningsby, Lincs : Aug 1943-Jan.

1944 Detachment at Tempsford in Dec 1943. Woodhall Spa, Lincs : Jan 1944 onwards Detachment in North Russia (Yagodnik) Sep 1944, for an operation against the Tirpitz. Detachment at Lossiemouth in Oct. and Nov. for further ops against the Tirpitz Bomber Command WWII Aircraft: Avro Lancaster B.I, B.III in standard and modified versions : Mar 1943 onwards (A single Mustang III and a small number of Mosquito FB.VIs were used for low-level target marking in 1944) Code Letters: "AJ", "KC" and "YZ" (B.I (Special) aircraft for Grand Slam ops only) First Operational Mission in WWII: 16/17th May 1943 : 19 Lancasters despatched to attack Ruhr dams.

5 aircraft attacked Möhne Dam (dam breached but 2 aircraft FTR.); 3 aircraft attacked Eder Dam (dam breached but 1 aircraft FTR.); 2 aircraft attacked Sorpe Dam (dam not breached but damaged); 1 aircraft attacked Schwelme Dam (dam not breached but possibly damaged). Last Operational Mission in WWII: 25th April 1945 : 8 Lancasters bombed targets at Berchtesgaden and 3 other Lancasters bombed alternative targets. History Second World War The squadron was formed at RAF Scampton during World War II on March 21 , 1943 . It included Royal Canadian Air Force , Royal Australian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel. The squadron was formed for the specific task of attacking three major dams on the Ruhr in Germany : the Möhne , Eder and Sorpe . The plan was given the codename Operation Chastise and was carried out on 17 May 1943 . The squadron had to develop the tactics to deploy Barnes Wallis 's " Bouncing bomb ". The original commander of 617 Squadron, Wing Commander Guy Gibson , was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in the raid.

The Squadron's badge, approved by King George VI , depicts the bursting of a dam, in commemoration of Chastise. After the raid, Gibson was banned from flying and went on a publicity tour. George Holden became Commanding Officer (CO) in July, but he was shot down and killed on his fourth mission with the squadron in September 1943, an attack on the Dortmund-Ems Canal ; he had four of Gibson's crew with him. H. B. "Mick" Martin took command temporarily, before Leonard Cheshire took over as CO. Cheshire personally took part in the special target marking techniques required which went far beyond the precision delivered by the standard Pathfinder units — by the end he was marking the targets from a Mustang fighter . He was awarded the VC. Throughout the rest of the war, the Squadron continued the specialist and precision bombing role, including the use of the enormous "Tallboy" and "Grand Slam" ground-penetrating earthquake bombs , on targets such as concrete U-boat shelters and bridges, and the Dortmund-Ems Canal was finally breached with Tallboys in September 1944. A particularly notable attack was the sinking of the Tirpitz .

Tirpitz had been moved into a fjord in northern Norway where she threatened the Arctic convoys and was too far north to be attacked by air from the UK. She had already been damaged by an attack by Royal Navy midget submarines and a series of attacks from carrier-borne aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm , but both attacks had failed to sink her. The task was given to No. 9 and No. 617 Squadrons, who operated from a staging base in Russia to attack Tirpitz with Tallboy bombs. They damaged her so extensively that she was forced to head south to Tromsø fjord to be repaired. This fjord was in range of bombers operating from Scotland , and from there, in October, she was attacked again, but cloud cover thwarted the attack. Finally on 12 November 1944 , the two squadrons attacked Tirpitz. The first bombs missed their target, but following aircraft scored three direct hits in quick succession. Within ten minutes of the first bomb hitting the Tirpitz she turned turtle . Both squadrons claim that it was their bombs that actually sank the Tirpitz. All three RAF attacks on Tirpitz were led by Wing Commander J. B.

"Willy" Tait , who had succeeded Cheshire as CO of No. 617 Squadron in July 1944. [1] The World War II exploits of the squadron, and Chastise in particular, were described in Paul Brickhill 's 1951 book The Dam Busters and a 1954 film . The definitive work however is considered "The Dambusters Raid" by John Sweetman, Cassell Military Paperbacks (82,99,2002). It is based on careful research and cross checking of original documents as well as interviews with survivors of the raid. In 2006, it was announced that New Zealand film director Peter Jackson and David Frost would co-produce a re-make of the film. It has been scripted by Stephen Fry and will be directed by Christian Rivers . The last living Dam Buster pilot, New Zealander Les Munro, offered his services as a technical adviser. [2] Post war No 617 Sqn Tornado GR1 After the end of World War II, the squadron was given the Avro Lincoln , following those in 1952 with the English Electric Canberra jet bomber.

The squadron was deployed to Malaya for four months in 1955, returning to RAF Binbrook to be disbanded on 15 December 1955 . The squadron operated the Avro Vulcan upon reforming at Scampton on 1 May 1958 as part of the "V-Force" . At first nuclear equipped, they reverted to conventional bombing after 1968 until disbanded on 31 December 1981 . The squadron was reformed at RAF Marham , Norfolk on 1 January 1983 , to be equipped with the Panavia Tornado GR1 . In 1993 it began the changeover to anti-shipping and by 1994 was operating from RAF Lossiemouth with Tornado GR1B with the Sea Eagle missile . 617 Sqn continued its pioneering heritage by becoming the first RAF squadron to fire the MBDA Storm Shadow cruise-missile, during the 2003 invasion of Iraq . Previous aircraft operated No. 617 Squadron RAF - Free definitions by Babylon No. 617 Squadron RAF Download this dictionary No. 617 Squadron RAF No.

617 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. It operated the Tornado GR4 in the ground attack and reconnaissance role. It is commonly known as the "Dambusters", for its actions during Operation Chastise against German dams during the Second World War . In October 2013 it left for Afghanistan as part of the British deployment prior to its being disbanded in the Spring of 2014. It is due to reform in 2016 as the RAF's first F-35 squadron. Video results for the word "No. 617 Squadron RAF" The following video provides you with the correct English pronunciation of the word "No. 617 Squadron RAF", to help you become a better English speaker. no 617 squadron raf : definition of no 617 squadron raf and synonyms of no 617 squadron raf (English) History Between the Wars According to the squadron's entry in Flying units of the RAF by Alan Lake, 617 were allocated the unit identification code MZ for the period April to September 1939, even though the unit didn't actually exist at the time.

Second World War The squadron was formed at RAF Scampton during World War II on 21 March 1943. It included Royal Canadian Air Force , Royal Australian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel. The squadron was formed for the specific task of attacking three major dams on the Ruhr in Germany: the Möhne , Eder and Sorpe . The plan was given the codename Operation Chastise and was carried out on 17 May 1943. The squadron had to develop the tactics to deploy Barnes Wallis 's " Bouncing bomb ". The Squadron's badge, approved by King George VI , depicts the bursting of a dam in commemoration of Chastise. The squadron's chosen motto was " Après moi le Deluge " ("After me, the Flood"), a humorous double entendre on the supposed last words of King Louis XV of France. The original commander of 617 Squadron, Wing Commander Guy Gibson , was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in the raid. Guy Gibson also owned a black Labrador named Nigger , who was the mascot of the squadron for some time.

After the raid, Gibson was withdrawn from flying (due to the high number of raids he had been on) and went on a publicity tour. George Holden became Commanding Officer (CO) in July, but he was shot down and killed on his fourth mission with the squadron in September 1943, an attack on the Dortmund-Ems Canal ; he had four of Gibson's crew with him. H. B. "Mick" Martin took command temporarily, before Leonard Cheshire took over as CO. Cheshire personally took part in the special target marking techniques required which went far beyond the precision delivered by the standard Pathfinder units – by the end he was marking the targets from a Mustang fighter . He was awarded the VC. On 15 July 1943 twelve aircraft of this Squadron took off from Scampton to attack targets in Northern Italy. All aircraft attacked and proceeded to North Africa without loss. The targets were San Polo D'Enza and Aquata Scrivia power stations which it hoped would delay German troops who were travelling down into Italy on the electrified railway system to support the Italian front. The operation met little opposition but the targets were obscured by valley haze and they were not destroyed.

The 12 crews returned to Scampton on 25 July from North Africa after bombing Leghorn docks on the return journey. The raid on Leghorn docks was not a great success due to mist shrouding the target. On 29 July 1943 nine aircraft took off from Scampton to drop leaflets on Milan, Bologna, Genoa and Turin in Italy. All aircraft completed the mission and landed safely in Blida North Africa. 7 of the aircraft returned to Scampton on 1 August, one on the 5th and the last on the 8th. Throughout the rest of the war, the Squadron continued the specialist and precision bombing role, including the use of the enormous "Tallboy" and "Grand Slam" ground-penetrating earthquake bombs , on targets such as concrete U-boat shelters and bridges and the Dortmund-Ems Canal was finally breached with Tallboys in September 1944. A particularly notable attack was the sinking of the Tirpitz . Tirpitz had been moved into a fjord in northern Norway where she threatened the Arctic convoys and was too far north to be attacked by air from the UK.

She had already been damaged by an attack by Royal Navy midget submarines and a series of attacks from carrier-borne aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm , but both attacks had failed to sink her. The task was given to No. 9 and No. 617 Squadrons, who operated from a staging base in Russia to attack Tirpitz with Tallboy bombs. They damaged her so extensively that she was forced to head south to Tromsø fjord to be repaired. This fjord was in range of bombers operating from Scotland and from there, in October, she was attacked again, but cloud cover thwarted the attack. Finally on 12 November 1944, the two squadrons attacked Tirpitz. The first bombs missed their target, but following aircraft scored three direct hits in quick succession. Within ten minutes of the first bomb hitting the Tirpitz she turned turtle . Both squadrons claim that it was their bombs that actually sank the Tirpitz. All three RAF attacks on Tirpitz were led by Wing Commander J. B. "Willy" Tait , who had succeeded Cheshire as CO of No. 617 Squadron in July 1944.

[1] Among those pilots participating in the raids was Flight Lieutenant John Leavitt, an American who piloted one of the 31 Lancasters. Leavitt's plane dropped one of the bombs that hit the Tirpitz dead centre. [2] The squadron carried out 1,599 operational sorties with the loss of 32 aircraft. [3] Dam Busters memorial at Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire The World War II exploits of the squadron and Chastise in particular, were described in Paul Brickhill 's 1951 book The Dam Busters and a 1954 film , though the accuracy and completeness of this account was compromised by many of the documents relating to the war years, still being secured by the Official Secrets legislation. The definitive work however is considered "The Dambusters Raid" by John Sweetman. [4] It is based on careful research and cross checking of original documents as well as interviews with survivors of the raid. In 2006, it was announced that New Zealand film director Peter Jackson and David Frost would co-produce a re-make of the film. It has been scripted by Stephen Fry and will be directed by Christian Rivers .

The last living Dam Buster pilot, New Zealander Les Munro , offered his services as a technical adviser. [5] In 2010 documents from the national archives were released that detail plans made in early July 1943 for a second major mission for 617 squadron that would have taken place in July or August, just months after the Dam-buster raids. The plan was for the squadron to fly another extremely low level operation, this time over Rome and to assassinate Benito Mussolini by bombing his headquarters and his residence. The plan was devised by Air Marshal Harris and had the backing of Anthony Eden, the foreign secretary. In a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, dated 13 July 1943, Eden wrote: "Harris has asked permission to try to bomb Mussolini in his office in Rome and to bomb his residence simultaneously in case the Duce is late that morning. Eden reported that Mussolini's headquarters, the magnificent Palazzo Venezia in central Rome and his private residence, Villa Torlonia, were both "unmistakeable" and could easily be identified by British bombers.

Importantly, neither was within 1,500 yards of the Vatican, which the Allies had promised not to damage. "I suggest that if Mussolini were killed or even badly shaken, at the present time this might greatly increase our chance of knocking Italy out (of the war) at an early date. And I therefore ask your permission to lay the operation on," Eden wrote. But within two weeks, Mussolini was ousted by the Grand Council of Fascism and replaced by a caretaker government led by King Vittorio Emmanuele III and Pietro Badoglio , who negotiated a surrender to the Allies. Post war No. 617 Sqn Tornado GR1. No. 617 Sqn Tornado GR4 in the Middle East in 2007. After the end of World War II, the squadron was given the Avro Lincoln , following those in 1952 with the English Electric Canberra jet bomber. The squadron was deployed to Malaya for four months in 1955, returning to RAF Binbrook to be disbanded on 15 December 1955.

Reformed at RAF Scampton on 1 May 1958 as part of RAF Bomber Command 's V-bomber force maintaining the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent, the squadron was equipped with the Avro Vulcan B1 from Aug 1960. [6] By 23 May 1961 its aircraft were the upgraded Vulcan B1A [7] fitted with the ECM tailpod. The squadron's assigned role was high-level strategic bombing with a variety of free fall nuclear bombs. Both the B1 and B1A types were equipped with various free-fall nuclear weapons. These may have included Blue Danube , Red Beard , Violet Club the Interim Megaton Weapon, Yellow Sun Mk.1 and certainly Yellow Sun Mk2 . American bombs were also supplied to the RAF V-bombers for a short period under the Project E arrangements.

[8] The squadron began almost immediately to upgrade yet again to the Vulcan B2, taking delivery of the first on 1 September 1961, [9] although its high-level strategic bombing role remained unchanged until the advent of effective Soviet Surface-to-Air Missiles forced Bomber Command to re-assign V-bombers from high-altitude operations to low-level penetration operations in March 1963, when the squadron's Vulcans adopted a mission profile that included a 'pop-up' manoeuvre from 500–1,000 ft [10] to above 12,000 ft for safe release of Blue Steel. The squadron's Vulcans were configured for the Blue Steel stand-off bomb and 617 Squadron was the first to be declared operational with it in August 1962. [11] until in January 1970 the squadron's eight Vulcan B2 aircraft were re-equipped with the new strategic laydown bomb, WE.177 B [12] which improved aircraft survivability by enabling aircraft to remain at low-level during weapon release.

[13] [14] Following the transfer of responsibility for the nuclear deterrent to the Royal Navy the squadron was re-assigned to SACEUR for tactical strike missions. In a high-intensity European war the squadron's role was to support land forces on the Continent by striking deep into enemy-held areas beyond the forward edge of the battlefield, striking at enemy concentrations and infrastructure, with WE.177 tactical nuclear weapons, should a conflict escalate to that stage. The squadron's eight aircraft were allocated eight WE.177 nuclear bombs and as the Vulcan bomb bay was configured to carry only one and assuming that RAF staff planners had factored in their usual allowance for attrition in the early conventional phase of a Continental war, leaving sufficient surviving aircraft to deliver the full stockpile of nuclear weapons, it is a reasonable conclusion that the Vulcan force was held in reserve for nuclear strike duties only.

The squadron's Vulcan B2s served mainly in that low-level penetration role until disbandment on 31 December 1981 [15] The squadron reformed on 1 January 1983 at RAF Marham re-equipped with twelve Tornado GR1 aircraft and eighteen WE.177 nuclear bombs, [16] and the squadron's role assigned to SACEUR remained one of support for land forces on the Continent. Their Tornado aircraft were each able to carry two WE.177 bombs and the ratio of weapons to aircraft at full strength increased to 1.5 : 1, with an allowance now made for attrition in the conventional opening phase of a Continental war. The squadron continued in this role until the WE.177 weapons were retired and No. 617 Squadron relinquished its nuclear delivery capability. [17] In 1993 the squadron began the changeover to anti-shipping and by 1994 was operating from RAF Lossiemouth assigned to SACLANT with the Tornado GR4B with the Sea Eagle missile.

617 Sqn also routinely deployed in support Operation Resinate and Operation Bolton , the RAF contribution to Operation Southern Watch , the last time being in the spring and summer of 2000 to Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait. 617 Sqn continued its pioneering heritage by becoming the first RAF squadron to fire the MBDA Storm Shadow cruise-missile, during the 2003 invasion of Iraq .

In 2011 the squadron's commanding officer is Wing Commander Keith Taylor who recently replaced Wing Commander David Cooper, since promoted to Group Captain and appointed to HQ Air Command.[ citation needed ] Aircraft operated December 1944, Wing Commander J E Fauquier April 1945, Wing Commander J E Grindon June 1945, Wing Commander C Fothergill April 1946, Squadron Leader C K Saxelby May 1947, Wing Commander C D Milne (for goodwill visit to USA) July 1947, Squadron Leader C K Saxelby February 1948, Squadron Leader P G Brodie May 1950, Squadron Leader W H Thallon June 1952, Squadron Leader M J O'Bryen-Nichols Dec 1952, Squadron Leader D Roberts May 1954, Squadron Leader J A Ruck (Squadron disbanded December 1955) 1958 – 1981 May 1958, Wing Commander D Bower [23] (Squadron reformed with Vulcans) May 1960

, Wing Commander L G A Bastard December 1962, Wing Commander H G Currell March 1965, Wing Commander D G L Heywood March 1967, Wing Commander R C Allen March 1969, Wing Commander C A Vasey March 1971, Wing Commander F M A Hines October 1973, Wing Commander V L Warrington September 1975, Wing Commander R B Gilvary July 1977, Wing Commander F Mason (brief tenure due to illness) July 1977, Wing Commander J N Stephenson-Oliver August 1979, Wing Commander J N Herbertson (Squadron disbanded December 1981) 1983 – present January 1983, Wing Commander A J Harrison (Squadron reformed with Tornadoes) June 1985, Wing Commander P J J Day January 1988, Wing Commander N J Day May 1990, Wing Commander R D Iveson March 1993, Wing Commander J H Dickinson July 1995, Wing Commander I L D

ugmore March 1998, Wing Commander G E Thwaites September 2000, Wing Commander D G Robertson July 2003, Wing Commander A Monkman January 2006, Wing Commander S P Rochelle January 2008, Wing Commander D J E Cooper October 2010, Wing Commander K D Taylor See also ^ RAF 617 Squadron Crest .

Bomber-command.info. Retrieved 15 May 2012. ^ CO name boards in 617 Squadron Mess, RAF Lossiemouth ^ D Bower . Rafweb.org. Retrieved 15 May 2012. Bibliography Arthur, Max (October 2008). Dambusters: A Landmark Oral History. Virgin Books. ISBN 1-905264-33-X . – first hand accounts of the planning, preparation and execution of the raid. J Falconer, Bomber Command Handbook 1939–1945, 2003, Sutton Publishing, Stroud, England, ISBN 0-7509-3171-X . Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9 . Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE,BA,RAF (Retd).

RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing, 1998 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-84037-141-2 . Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1964 (new edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01027-1 .

External links In Focus: Last Dambusters Pilot Dies - A Look Back Photos and Images | Getty Images In Focus: Last Dambusters Pilot Dies - A Look Back May 27, 1943 License The Visit Of HM King George VI To No 617 Squadron (The Dambusters) Royal Air Force,...The Visit Of HM King George VI To No 617 Squadron (The Dambusters) Royal Air Force, Scampton, Lincolnshire, 27 May 1943, Wing Commander Guy Gibson, VC, DSO and bar, DFC and bar, with members of his Squadron. In the front row are Gibson's flight commanders, on his right Squadron Leader Dave Maltby, and on his left Squadron Leader Mick Martin, 27 May 1943.

LessMore The Dambusters The Virtual Dambusters RAF 617 Squadron, The Dambusters, was formed in early March of 2004 by Charlie3 and Kizmet as WWII Online's first and (at that time) only squad dedicated to the sustained strategic bombing of the Axis Research Development and Production facilities One of the common themes we see in the average World War Two Online player is their interest in history, specifically the Second World War. The squad's name pays homage to the past and current legacy of the real RAF 617 Squadron and their ingenuity, tenacity and bravery. The virtual Dambusters have our own long history and an unparalleled reputation of ingenuity, dedication and excellence within the WWIIOL community. The Dambusters lead the WWIIOL community (Allied and Axis) in the development and implementation of strategic bombing strategy and tirelessly work to prove (and improve) the importance that strategic bombing plays in not only the Allied war effort, but the game as a whole. We are a fun bunch of nuts who love raining down destruction on the Axis factories around the clock. Our bomber pilots like nothing better than taking flights of a dozen (even dozens) of bombers and escorts across enemy lines.

Our escort pilots are among the best in the game. They cut through factory defenders with nerves of steel and get our bomber pilots to target and safely home. If you are a fighter pilot looking for action, quit chasing AI-hugging 109s on the deck, come on up to where the real air war is taking place. Our Squad currently has members from around the world. We cover numerous time zones and enjoy the comraderie of teamwork and the expanding of knowledge we gain, simply from talking with one another on teamspeak as we play the game. We welcome all bomber and fighter pilots, new and old alike. Although our main function is strategic bombing, our squad encourages enjoyment in the game and readily perform other missions as required by the Allied High Command. If the Axis make it, we're more than happy to blow it up! We encourage you to delve into the complexities of World War Two Online, and more specifically, we invite you to join our "Team" as we continue to rain death and destruction down on the Axis hordes.

This game encourages (even requires) teamwork and has a steep learning curve so you will find gameplay much more enjoyable, and you'll survive much longer, if you join a squad early on in your WWIIOnline playing career. With experience comes knowledge and the Dambusters are a knowledgebase waiting to teach you the complexities of this Massive Multi-Player Online game. So that you get a better idea of what we do, as well as the excitement and enjoyment that is possible in the game, we have some links on the left to videos of past Dambuster bombing missions and some training material on the Guide page, see the Tabs at the top. If you like what you see and are interested in joining one of the most well-known and well-respected squads in WWIIOL, ask for the Dambusters by name in game or stop by our forums and introduce yourself. Even if you don't elect to join our ranks, we need the help of every Allied player to keep the Axis war machine at bay, so watch for our mission announcements on ch [55] and [3] and join us on a mission or two. All are welcome.

So here's wishing you all Happy Hunting - and thus in the tradition of the real DamBusters, a still active squadron in the RAF today. We pay tribute to these awesome pilots by using their namesake in a massive video game called World War Two Online. Our squadron of gamers is tasked with levelling factories to affect Axis research, development and production in the game. We also provide close air support by raining bombs on Axis armour, artillery and troops. This is our story. Feel free to browse our forums or dropping us a line via info(at)617dambusters(dot)com , and if interested, please inquire about joining the team. Dambusters Service Home News News by Date Dambusters Service News articles by date Dambusters Given Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving A Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving took place at Lincoln Cathedral Friday, 17th May to remember and honour the lives of those who served in No: 617 Squadron, better known as the “Dambusters”, on the 70th anniversary of the Squadron’s momentous raid on the Ruhr valley dams of Nazi Germany.

The congregation was more than 1,500 strong and included 617 Squadron veterans Les Munro & Johnny Johnson, daughter of Barnes Wallis, Mary Stopes-Roe, dignitaries from the Commonwealth nations and many officers and men serving and retired from the Royal Air Force. The Very Reverend Philip Buckler, the Dean of Lincoln referring to 617 Squadron in his opening prayer said, “We remember all who have served and still serve in that Squadron. We honour all who fight in the service of freedom.” He went on to add, “Today we especially pray for the Royal Air Force and all those who continue to work, often in immense danger, for justice and peace.” During the commemoration 617 Squadron’s Standard was laid on the Alter and in the sermon given by the Royal Air Force Chaplain-in-Chief, Air Vice Marshal, the Venerable Ray Pentland said of it, “It stands to challenge our standards, our values of history,” adding “here then encapsulated in this material is the story of those who have gone before. It is their story but it is also your story; it is the Squadron’s heritage.

Those who serve today tread in the footsteps of those we remember, celebrate and commemorate this day.” In a solemn reading, which reflected the occasion, Squadron Leader Dunc’ Mason, the Officer Commanding the RAF’s Memorial Flight, read and excerpt from the Funeral Oration of Pericles, which concluded, “Remember that posterity can only be for the free; that freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.” After the Service when the congregation had gathered outside, two Tornados from today’s 617 Squadron flew over the cathedral, followed moments later by the Lancaster bomber of the RAF Memorial Flight, the poignant sight moving several in the congregation to applaud. Editor: Ed Marshall

Question: No.617 RAF Sqaudron is better known as what?
Answer: The Dambusters