The squadron was formed at RAF Scampton during World War II on March 21, 1943 with the purpose of attacking three major dams on the Ruhr in Germany: the Möhne, Eder and Sorpe. The plan was given the codename Operation Chastise and was carried out on 17 May 1943. The squadron had to develop the tactics to deploy Barnes Wallis's "Bouncing bomb".
The commander of 617 Squadron Wing Commander Guy Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in the raid. The Squadron's badge, approved by King George VI, depicts the bursting of a dam, in commemoration of Operation Chastise.
After the raid, Gibson was banned from flying and went on a publicity tour.
I want to know why Gibson was banned from flying? Can anyone tell me?
I only found this year, at his funeral, that my great-uncle was in that squadron. If he wasn't dead I could have asked him.
ReplyDeleteIt was probably because he didn't apologise for the name of his dog.
ReplyDeleteHe had done too many ops. Cochrane effectively grounded him. Sadly he later died in a Mosquito.
ReplyDeleteOh, so it wasn't that he was hitting the juice or something? Sad about him later, of course.
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