Fred Sutherland Autographed Photograph
During World War II, the dams located in Germany’s heavily industrialized Ruhr Valley were identified as strategic targets. The dams not only provided hydro-electric power and water for the steel industry, but also supplied drinking water and water for the canal transport system.
The problem was that although it was believed that large bombs could be effective against the dams, the British did not have the technology to allow the degree of accuracy that would have been required in an attack.
A possible solution to the problem was devised by British scientist and engineer Barnes Wallis, who at the time served as the assistant chief designer at Vickers. His idea involved a drum-shaped bomb that would be spun backwards at high speed prior to release from the aircraft. He believed that if the bomb was released at low altitude, and that if it had a reverse spin applied to it as it dropped, it would result in the bomb skipping across the water’s surface for a significant distance. Upon contact with the dam, the residual spin would then pull the bomb down the inward side of the dam towards its base before detonating.
Once initial testing of Barnes Wallis’ concept, a new squadron was formed specifically for “Operation Chastise”, the mission of attacking the Ruhr Valley dams. The squadron was initially known as “X” Squadron, and later designated as 617 Squadron.
Avro Lancaster bombers were modified by removing the mid-upper gun turret and the bomb-bay doors, and calipers and a belt drive motor were installed to hold and spin the bomb.
After a series of test flights to further refine the attack plan and to confirm the operation of the bouncing bombs, codenamed “Upkeep”, the mission was scheduled for the night of 16-17 May, 1943.
RAF personnel from several different nationalities served as the aircrews. In addition to ones from Britain, there were crewmembers from Australia, New Zealand and Canada, as well as a single American volunteer to the RAF.
Of the nineteen bombers that departed on the mission, eleven made attacks, resulting in the Mohne and Eder dams being breached, and the Sorpe dam damaged. Eight aircraft were lost during the raid, resulting in the deaths of 53 men. Three additional men ended up being taken captive by the Germans and became POWs.
Flooding that resulted from the breached dams inundated several factories and mines, and destroyed two hydroelectric power stations, as well as damaging several others. Additionally, the flooding destroyed several road and rail bridges.
Afterwards, the British Air Ministry heavily publicized the success, and the squadron was dubbed the “Dambusters”.
The item in my collection is a photograph of one of the Lancaster bombers releasing one of the bouncing bombs during a practice flight. The photograph was autographed by Fred Sutherland, a Canadian who served as the nose gunner on the aircraft piloted by Australian Les Knight. The two previous bombs dropped from other aircraft had been unsuccessful, but Knight’s bomb skipped three times and struck the dam to the south of the center, and exploded, causing the central wall to collapse and breach the dam.
The problem was that although it was believed that large bombs could be effective against the dams, the British did not have the technology to allow the degree of accuracy that would have been required in an attack.
A possible solution to the problem was devised by British scientist and engineer Barnes Wallis, who at the time served as the assistant chief designer at Vickers. His idea involved a drum-shaped bomb that would be spun backwards at high speed prior to release from the aircraft. He believed that if the bomb was released at low altitude, and that if it had a reverse spin applied to it as it dropped, it would result in the bomb skipping across the water’s surface for a significant distance. Upon contact with the dam, the residual spin would then pull the bomb down the inward side of the dam towards its base before detonating.
Once initial testing of Barnes Wallis’ concept, a new squadron was formed specifically for “Operation Chastise”, the mission of attacking the Ruhr Valley dams. The squadron was initially known as “X” Squadron, and later designated as 617 Squadron.
Avro Lancaster bombers were modified by removing the mid-upper gun turret and the bomb-bay doors, and calipers and a belt drive motor were installed to hold and spin the bomb.
After a series of test flights to further refine the attack plan and to confirm the operation of the bouncing bombs, codenamed “Upkeep”, the mission was scheduled for the night of 16-17 May, 1943.
RAF personnel from several different nationalities served as the aircrews. In addition to ones from Britain, there were crewmembers from Australia, New Zealand and Canada, as well as a single American volunteer to the RAF.
Of the nineteen bombers that departed on the mission, eleven made attacks, resulting in the Mohne and Eder dams being breached, and the Sorpe dam damaged. Eight aircraft were lost during the raid, resulting in the deaths of 53 men. Three additional men ended up being taken captive by the Germans and became POWs.
Flooding that resulted from the breached dams inundated several factories and mines, and destroyed two hydroelectric power stations, as well as damaging several others. Additionally, the flooding destroyed several road and rail bridges.
Afterwards, the British Air Ministry heavily publicized the success, and the squadron was dubbed the “Dambusters”.
The item in my collection is a photograph of one of the Lancaster bombers releasing one of the bouncing bombs during a practice flight. The photograph was autographed by Fred Sutherland, a Canadian who served as the nose gunner on the aircraft piloted by Australian Les Knight. The two previous bombs dropped from other aircraft had been unsuccessful, but Knight’s bomb skipped three times and struck the dam to the south of the center, and exploded, causing the central wall to collapse and breach the dam.
