All in all it was a pretty tremendous feat with all the combined skill and courage coming together to cause a tremendous result.The leader of the attack , Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson VC DSO and Bar DFC and Bar , was awarded the Victoria Cross for the courage he displayed throughout the mission.A tremendous man who unfortunately did not live to see the end of the war like many of original 617 squadron.
There has been much dispute over the years to the actual impact on Germany.It is true that much of the damage to the surrounding industry was minimal but the propaganda effects were huge.The raid came at a time when Churchill needed to convince our American allies that Britain was fighting back against Germany and this was the perfect example.The news of the breaking of the dams was reported all over the world and Gibson became what could perhaps be classed as a celebrity.
I think it best to close by not only honouring the memory of those who took part in the raid but the innocent German civillians and foreign workers who were killed by the subsequent flooding of the river valleys.
Skipper
