Anybody else in the UK saw the Dambusters Documentary tonight?

[MB_Avro_UK]

Hi all,

It suggested that the Royal Navy kept the initial project alive as the bouncing bomb could have been used against the Tirpitz in harbour.

The documentary also suggests that the extensive repairs necessary to the Dams diverted resources from the Atlantic Wall and therefore helped the D-Day invasion a year later.

Interestingly, 'Bomber' Harris opposed the raid as he saw it as totally impractical,and a diversion from area bombing.

And the leader of the raid was only 24 years old.

Also,25% of the crews were from the British Commonwealth.And one pilot was American.

Best Regards,
MB_Avro.

[MB_Avro_UK]

Hi all,

It suggested that the Royal Navy kept the initial project alive as the bouncing bomb could have been used against the Tirpitz in harbour.

The documentary also suggests that the extensive repairs necessary to the Dams diverted resources from the Atlantic Wall and therefore helped the D-Day invasion a year later.

Interestingly, 'Bomber' Harris opposed the raid as he saw it as totally impractical,and a diversion from area bombing.

And the leader of the raid was only 24 years old.

Also,25% of the crews were from the British Commonwealth.And one pilot was American.

Best Regards,
MB_Avro.

[WTE_Galway]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by MB_Avro_UK:


Interestingly, 'Bomber' Harris opposed the raid as he saw it as totally impractical,and a diversion from area bombing.

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

One gets the impression Harris was a touch, how shall we say it, obsessive ?

[AndyJWest]

Just watched it on BBC iPlayer.

I think that the 'diversion of resources' argument is almost certainly valid. To a large extent, this was probably true of the 'area bombing' strategy as well - it led to large numbers of men, and much matériel, being held back from the front, and its effects on the outcome of the war are likely to be underestimated if measured in terms of direct 'damage done'.

As for the raid itself, I think the programme did a real service in not overdoing the 'elite aircrew' line - one can respect them more for being ordinary(ish) people asked to carry out an extraordinary task, and doing it.

[x6BL_Brando]

I've also read that if Harris had committed aircraft to follow-up raids using conventional bombs on the Mohne and Eder dams while they were under repair, then steel production in the Ruhr would have been more noticeably affected.* Instead, the bravery and sacrifice of the Lancaster crews was used for propaganda and morale-raising rather than any tactical gain. To that end it was a success; made doubly so because it caused the Nazi's to recall forces from the front lines to a home defence role.

*"All hell let loose" by Max Hastings. 2011, Harper Press.

[Airmail109]

http://www.meh.ro/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/meh.ro8291.jpg

[MB_Avro_UK]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Aimail101:
http://www.meh.ro/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/meh.ro8291.jpg </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks for your contribution. Are you a European Parliament member? http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Best Regards,
MB_Avro.

[major_setback]

Yes, I saw it when home in the UK for a visit. Marvellous documentary.

I found it interesting that Barnes Wallace resigned from the Vickers Windsor (aircraft) project in order to pursue this (at the time) questionable project.

Also of interest was the fact that a dam in Wales was destroyed during testing of the bomb (footage included in the documentary).

[major_setback]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by WTE_Galway:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by MB_Avro_UK:


Interestingly, 'Bomber' Harris opposed the raid as he saw it as totally impractical,and a diversion from area bombing.

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

One gets the impression Harris was a touch, how shall we say it, obsessive ? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

No, you are wrong. He was a bloody lunatic.