The "Dams Raid"
On May 16-17, 1943, the Lancaster crews of 617 Squadron demonstrated unflinching courage in the execution of an ambitious and highly dangerous feat of arms, utilizing a new and operationally untested weapon and establishing a legend that still resonates today. The Dams Raid had an impact totally out of proportion to the small number of aircraft involved and heralded a new era of precision bombing.
Operation Chastise was a success in so far as the Möhne and Eder dams were both breached, although overshadowing that success and the publicity and legendary status awarded to it ever since is the tragedy that 56 of the 133 airmen who set out on the mission did not return. However, the amazing technical ingenuity at the heart of the raid, and the skill and courage of the airmen of 617 Squadron, were not in vain. The cost to the Germans of repairing the damage wrought by the raid was enormous-psychologically, materially, logistically and financially-and it was one that they simply could not afford. One of those killed in action that night was Flight Lieutenant John "Hoppy" Hopgood, DFC and Bar.
Pilot John Hopgood
John Vere Hopgood joined the RAF in August 1940 when he was 18. He qualified as a pilot in February 1941 and was then commissioned. After completing further training, and still only 19 years old, he joined 50 Squadron, flying Handley Page Hampdens on his first tour of operations as a bomber pilot. He was then posted to a training unit as an instructor.
In February 1942 he returned to operational flying with 106 Squadron, which was based at RAF Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, England, flying the unreliable and underpowered twin-engine Avro Manchester. Hopgood flew 11 "ops" on Manchesters before the squadron began to receive new Avro Lancasters, and he became one of the first pilots to convert to the new four-engine aircraft.
This story is from the May - June 2023 edition of Flight Journal.
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This story is from the May - June 2023 edition of Flight Journal.
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Scourge of the Allied Fighters
IT HAD TO BE THE MOST HELPLESS FEELING in the world: you're at 25,000 feet over Europe knowing that your primary function is to drop bombs-or flying escort for the bombers while being a slow-moving target for some of the world's finest shooters. However, you have John Browning's marvelous .50 caliber invention to give some degree of protection. Unfortunately, you're absolutely helpless against flak. Piloting and gunnery skills play no role in a game where sheer chance makes life and death decisions. For that reason, the Krupp 88 mm Flak 18/36/37 AA cannon could be considered WW II's ultimate stealth fighter. You never saw it coming.
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