Dambusters

[JohnHemel]

watching Dan Snow program but dont understand why they had to fly low on the way to the dams and endure the flak,, why not stay high until target? I am sure a good reason... but ..?

[gulliver1]

Sanmac over and out, or over and gone, even.

[Peter Pedant]

no or yes the film was accurate
I think Barnes Wallis was an adviser

had propaganda value - like Doolittle raid, or the bombing of Berlin early in the war

[vulcan42]

according to the book of the raid the theatre story was partly correct, Gibson mentioned the idea to higher authority but Farnborough boffins had already come up with it. Incidentally, they were originally asked to fly at 100 feet but when they discovered at this height the bomb casing kept breaking, they were asked to fly at 60 ft. This is why they used the spotlights as their altimeters were useless at this height.

[gulliver1]

What's happening . Blow your nose and handkerchief
removed.

[Sunk]

...5...4...3...2...1...

[New Judge]

The bombers flew at about 100 feet to their targets. This was to avoid German radar and was a supreme feat of flying in itself. The height required to release the bombs was 60 feet. This was measured, as described, by two lights from the aircraft which were aligned so as to form a single reflection from the surface when the aircraft was precisely 60 feet above the water. The distance from the dam that the bomb should be released was also critical. This was measured by the bomb aimer using two sticks mounted on a frame which were designed to align with the towers of the dam when the aircraft was at the critical distance from it.