The Dambusters Raid
By (Author) Dr John Sweetman
Orion Publishing Co
Cassell Military
5th July 1999
18th March 1999
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
European history
Second World War
Modern warfare
War and defence operations
General and world history
940.5421
Paperback
352
Width 200mm, Height 134mm, Spine 24mm
260g
Operation Chastise - the Dambusters Raid, as it became known - undertaken by 19 Lancasters of 617 Squadron on the night of 16 May 1943, was the most audacious bombing raid of the Second World War. For the loss of 11 aircraft, the Mohne and Eder dams in Germany's industrial heartland were breached, and a famous if controversial victory won. John Sweetman's book is the most comprehensive account of this legendary mission, from the development of Barnes Wallis' 'bouncing bomb' (in reality a revolving depth-charge) to every moment of the raid itself, under the charismatic command of Guy Gibson, VC. It recalls a time of commitment, perseverance and sheer dogged determination in the face of dangerous and improbable odds.
Dr John Sweetman is Hon. Research Fellow at Keele University and former Head of Defence & International Affairs at Sandhurst. He has written many other books, incl. Tannenberg 1914, also published by Cassell.