They used four lancasters, all Mk 7’s, reverse engineered to look more like their wartime configuration with the exception of retaining their post war rear gun turrets. Three of the Lancs had two sets of Squadron codes, different on either side so three Lancs could play the part of six lancs. Only Gibson’s AJ-G had the correct serial number, the rest retaining their real RAF serials. They came from an RAF Maintenance Unit and three of them had appeared on film before in the Dirk Bogarde movie “Appointment In London” (less well known but also recommended). More sadly, the lancs were signed off charge and scrapped shortly after the film was completed. Peter Jackson has long been rumoured to be preparing a Dambusters remake using a script written by Stephen Fry and they’ve got around the controversial ‘N’ word by calling Gibson’s dog “Nigsy” which apparently it frequently was. There were some photographs on the net of a fibreglass Lancaster Jackson had had built and I have to say, it looked very good for a non flying replica.

I recall various people saying:

 

The German Me 109 had fuel injection!!! it was better !!!

 

…um…actually they had no choice, the engine was arse over tit as far as gravity was concerned.

Hi There

One of the bombs is at the Ringwood Town and Country Experience in Hampshire.

 

 

There’s also one at Kelham Island Museum in Sheffield, and also at East Kirkby Lancaster Museum in Lincolnshire, where some of the Ch 4 programme was filmed.

 

Regards

Geoff

Posted by Clive Hartland on 03/05/2011 13:32:12:

Yes…it would seem that the real value to the allied war effort was in boosting morale (and demoralizing the Germans) rather than in the actual damage caused.

 

Regards,

Tony

Channel 4 I Player

 

Watch on your PC.

 

John S.

John: Many thanks for the link.

Tony: It is possible that my father and your uncle met up while 617’s aircraft were being prepared, although dad had no formal links with the Barnes Wallis team. He spent his war with No.1 Signals Squadron on an incredibly long tour of RAF stations in the UK, testing and fitting new developments in radio and navigation aids mainly. He was one of the first RAF personnel to be seconded to work with the Americans, to fit RAF-compatible radio into the incoming B17s. Also fitted communications systems into Winston Churchill’s personal Liberator. He died in 1974, and I am always sorry I did not ask him more about his wartime service.

After his death I found some of his sketches of Lancaster wiring diagrams, which I gave to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in the late 80s. Their Lancaster often used to fly over my home when I lived in Lincolnshire, and when I handed over the drawings I jokingly suggested that as a reward they could fly the Lanc over my house low enough to make the roof slates rattle. Some weeks later it did just that. I am sure it was a coincidence rather than a deliberate act, but it was a wonderful moment!

The bomb its self was the small bit, after the frame for mounting the bomb and the motor to rotate it was in place. Ian S C

I can confirm that the Tiger Moth has a standard float carburettor.

 

Regards,

 

Andrew

Hi all,

 

Thanks a million for the link! I don’t ever turn on the doom box except for an hour or two at Chrimbo.

 

Fantastic programme that showed the difficulties of setting up something like that.

We know it is going to work because it already has, but recreatring it without the original equipment (Lancasters, Riculver beach, the Mohne dam and war experienced pilots) was going to be something to see.

 

Just goes to show, you CAN make honey out of dogsh*t! Haha! (a good description of my better efforts in the shed!)

 

Andy

To be fair, any pilot who flies a 4 – engined cargo plane at 80 feet is going to be a bit headstrong…