The Dambusters were the crews of 617 Squadron, RAF who took part in a raid on 16 May 1943 to destroy vital dams east of the Ruhr industrial area in Germany.

617 Squadron had been formed for the specific purpose of destroying these targets. The raid was difficult as the dams were to be attacked at night and the aircraft (Avro Lancasters) had to travel at a precise speed at an extremely low level.

A special bomb was designed to skip across the surface of the water and over the torpedo nets that protected the dams. The bomb then had to reach the dam - yet not strike it with enough force to set off the charge - and sink to the most effective depth before exploding.

Nineteen Lancasters of 617 Squadron took off from Scampton airfield in three waves on the night of Sunday 16 May. The operation was successful in destroying the Mohne and Eder dams, and in damaging the Sorpe dam.

Eight aircraft were lost - five of them on the way to the targets, two during the attacks and one on the way home. Two more had been damaged on the outward leg, and had been force to return to base.

Source:
The strategic air offensive against Germany 1939-1945: [4 volumes] by Sir Charles Webster and Noble Frankland. - London : HMSO, 1961.