Skip to main contentAccess keys help

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
BBC News
watch One-Minute World News
Last Updated: Sunday, 4 May, 2003, 11:55 GMT 12:55 UK
Dambusters' tribute at air show
Veterans from 617 Squadron
Three veterans from 617 Squadron who took part in the Dams raid

Two veterans of the daring Dambusters raid in World War II were being honoured at an air show in Cambridgeshire on Sunday.

The two men flew in the mission which took off from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire on the night of 16/17 May, 1943.

The low-flying raid utilised the Barnes-Wallis designed bouncing bomb and has become part of the UK's military heritage.

Both men were guests of honour at Duxford Air Show which was marking the 60th anniversary of the Dams raid.

Squadron Leader Tony Iveson and Sergeant Ray Grayston are among the six surviving members of the raid.

A third member of the No 617 Squadron, Adjutant "Harry" Humphries, who helped put the crews together, was also at the show - to launch a new book about the raid.

Taken prisoner

One of only two airworthy Lancasters left in the world, part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, was displaying in tribute to the men of the Dambusters raid at the air show.

The raid, which was immortalised in the film The Dambusters, was led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson.

Some 19 Lancasters of No 617 Squadron, each with a crew of 7 men, took part in an audacious low-level attack on the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe dams in the Ruhr, vital to Germany's industrial production.

The raid was deemed a success as the destruction of the dams caused widespread flooding and interrupted industrial production.

However it came at a high cost as eight of the 19 Lancasters failed to return, 53 aircrew were killed and three survived to be taken prisoner.




SEE ALSO:
Dambusters anniversary marked
27 Apr 03  |  Southern Counties
Dambusters return home
17 Apr 03  |  Scotland
Dambusters in TV documentary
03 Apr 03  |  England


RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia
UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health
Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes
AmericasAfricaEuropeMiddle EastSouth AsiaAsia Pacific