Dam Busters

Barnes Wallis develops the bouncing bomb as a means of attacking the dams that supply water and power to Germany’s Ruhr industries. Wing Commander Guy Gibson forms RAF 617 Squadron and trains crews to fly Lancasters at extremely low altitude during a night operation requiring new equipment and precise timing.

Holland reconstructs Operation Chastise from scientific development through the attacks on the Möhne, Eder and Sorpe dams. The raid causes major flooding and heavy civilian loss but does not permanently disable German industry. The account separates the crews’ courage and technical achievement from later myth, asking what the mission accomplished and what it cost.