The Dambusters by Robert Taylor

On 16th May 1943, the crews of 617 Sqn were about to embark on an audacious low-level assault against the great dams of Germany. Codenamed Operation Chastise, the task required exceptional flying skills and a specially designed ‘bouncing bomb’, but if the dams could be destroyed it would deal a massive blow to the Nazi war machine.

This is the first and original Dambuster release from Robert, in which Mick Martin is depicted releasing his bouncing bomb and heading through the defensive curtain of gunfire provided by the German forces. Guy Gibson's aircraft is flying directly in front of Martin's in an effort to distract the flak, in spite of this Martin collected a shell right through a starboard wing tank, but his bomb scored another direct hit. Gibson and Martin then flew in with each of the two successive attacks either distracting the defences or attempting to suppress them with fire from their own air gunners. The cumulative effect of the fourth direct hit breached the Dam and 150,000,000 gallons flooded the Ruhr valley washing away factories, railway bridges, electric pylons, but above all greatly reducing water supplies so necessary to the armament industrial processes.

Signed by these Dambuster veterans:

Air Marshal Sir HAROLD “MICK” MARTIN KCB CB DSO* DFC* AFC – Pilot of Lancaster AJ-P which attacked the Möhne Dam

Squadron Leader KEN BROWN CGM – Pilot of Lancaster AJ-F target the Sorpe Dam

Flight Lieutenant BILL TOWNSEND CGM DFM – Pilot of Lancaster AJ-O target the Ennepe Dam

Squadron Leader DAVID SHANNON DSO* DFC* – Pilot of Lancaster AJ-L which attacked the Möhne Dam

Flight Lieutenant JOE McCARTHY DFC – Pilot of Lancaster AJ-T which scored a direct hit on the Sorpe Dam

Sergeant FRED SUTHERLAND – Front Gunner on Les Knight’s Lancaster AJ-N that successfully breached the Eder Dam

Squadron Leader GEORGE “JOHNNY” JOHNSON DFM – Bomb-Aimer on Lancaster AJ-T, scored a direct hit on the Sorpe

Squaron Leader LARRY CURTIS - In more than 70 bombing missions, he earned 2 DFCs as a wireless operator

Flight Sergeant BILL HOWARTH - Front gunner - AJ-W

Flying Officer HAROLD "HOBBY" HOBDAY - Navigator - AJ-N

DAVID SHANNON - Pilot L-Love

KEN BROWN - Pilot - F-Freddie

Flight Sergeant BOB KELLOW - Wireless operator - AJ-N

Flight Sergeant DONALD MACLEAN - Navigator - AJ-T

Flying Officer DANIEL R. WALKER - Navigator - AJ-L

BASIL FENERON - Flight Engineer - AJ-F

Flight Sergeant LEONARD SUMPTER - Bomb Aimer - AJ-L

One additional unidentified signer (to the right of the print title)