The Dam Busters

Engineer Barnes Wallis develops a revolutionary bouncing bomb capable of breaching German dams, while RAF Wing Commander Guy Gibson trains a specialist squadron for an extraordinarily low-level night raid. The film follows the development and execution of the audacious attack on the Ruhr valley dams.

Operation Chastise saw RAF 617 Squadron breach the Möhne and Eder dams using Wallis's bouncing bombs, causing severe flooding and disruption to German industry at significant cost in aircraft and aircrew. The raid became one of the most celebrated feats of British wartime engineering and airmanship.

Widely regarded as accurate for its era, though it simplifies the technical development process and the strategic impact of the raid.

The Luftwaffe attempted to win air superiority over southern England as a precondition for invasion. RAF Fighter Command, supported by the Dowding radar and control system, denied it.

Attacks moved from convoys and coastal radar to airfields, then in September switched to London — relieving pressure on Fighter Command at a critical moment. Invasion plans were postponed indefinitely in mid-September.

Directed by Michael Anderson

Cast: Richard Todd, Michael Redgrave

Positioned at 16–17 May 1943 within the RAF precision bombing campaign phase of the war, as part of the Operation Chastise. This is entry 98 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• RAF
• 617 Squadron
• bouncing bomb
• Guy Gibson
• dams raid

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  Dunkirk

  26 May – 4 June 1940

• 

  Days of Glory

  1943–1944

• 

  Masters of the Air

  1943–1945

• 

  Memphis Belle

  17 May 1943

• 

  Stalag 17

  Winter 1943–44

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  Atonement

  1935–1940