Rugby4Heroes will honour 70th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid

‘Operation Chastise‘ – The daring Dambusters Raid, 16/17th May 1943

The Fifth Anniversary OLRFC Rugby4 Heroes Festival this year coincides with the 70th anniversary of one of the most daring aerial operations of the Second World War.

Operation Chastise – otherwise known as The Dambusters Raid – was carried out by 133 men and 19 Lancaster Bombers from the RAF’s 617 Squadron, based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

In an effort to shorten the war and impede the production of military equipment by the Nazi government, the RAF decided to attack and breach three dams in the Ruhr Valley area of Germany. This would affect the source of hydro-electric power, cause heavy flooding and interfering with military factories.

A new technology ‘bouncing bomb’ was developed by Dr Barnes Wallis, and was dropped by aircraft from the Lancaster Bomber squadron led by 24 year old Wing Commander Guy Gibson, VC, DFC and Bar.

The attacks on the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe Dams were partially successful, with breaches achieved to two out of the three dams. Whilst it did not seriously impact Nazi war material production, the raid provided a significant boost to Britain’s morale and demonstrated commitment to the United States and the Soviet Union.

The raid was truly a multinational operation;

• Crewmen were drawn from all four parts of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland
• From further afield, crew from Australia, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and The United States of America all flew in the raid
• The average age of the flight crews was 22
• Rear Gunner Sergeant Stephen Burns, from Dudley, Worcestershire, flew in Lancaster H-Harry in the Raid’s second wave and completed the mission. Sadly he was killed later in 1943 when he and his crew were shot down

The human cost of the raid was very significant;

• 53 crewman lost their lives, a 40% casualty rate
• 9 aircraft out of the 19 on the raid did not return safely
• 13 of the lost crew were Canadian airmen, and 2 were Australian
• Estimated civilian casualties were approximately 1,650 persons, of which many were Eastern European POWs working in the area in ‘forced labour’
• The Raid’s Commander, Guy Gibson, was lost on operations in 1944

The operation was immortalised in Paul Brickhill’s book and the 1955 Film ‘The Dambusters’. Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit Producer, Peter Jackson, is currently engaged in filming a remake with the script said to be written by Stephen Fry.

OLRFC Rugby 4 Heroes is proud to honour the memory of these brave men who were lost on the raid and in subsequent operations. May they never be forgotten.

We will mark this with a special tribute flypast by a Spitfire and Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial flight, at 2.20pm on Saturday 11th May 2013.

**NEWS FLASH** RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight confirmed!

RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

A Spitfire and Hurricane from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will be conducting a 3-pass fly past on Saturday 11th May 2013 after the Royal British Legion take the salute of all rugby players at this year’s Service of Remembrance!

Rugby for Heroes is proud and delighted to welcome the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to perform a display at this year’s Charity Rugby and Music Festival.

Two of the Flight’s aircraft, a Spitfire and a Hurricane, will be performing a flypast on Saturday 11^th May 2013 at around 230pm, as a salute to the 5^th Anniversary festival and in remembrance of all of the men and women who have served our country and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (RAFBBMF) is based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. The BBMF was set up in 1957 to act as a living, flying memorial to the men and women who fought in the RAF in World War 2.

They operate a fantastic range of historic flying aircraft, including the UK’s only operational Lancaster bomber, two Hurricanes, eight Spitfires, a Dakota transport aircraft and a Chipmunk. These aircraft are lovingly maintained by RAF maintenance teams, all year round, and undertake a very busy flying schedule throughout the year.

The aircraft are regularly seen at events commemorating World War II, upon British State occasions, notably the ‘Trooping the Colour’ celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday and at air displays throughout the United Kingdom and Europe.

Big thanks are due to Norm Webster of RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises – www.airtattoo.com – who has worked tirelessly to secure this flying display and a ground demonstration from The Lytham St Annes Spitfire Display Team – www.spitfiredisplayteam.co.uk. We can’t thank him enough for his hard work and commitment, and for making this year’s Festival the most memorable ever.