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IPTC: Caption
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The aircrew of 617 Squadron Commander (later Wing Commander) Guy Penrose Gibson (August 12, 1918 - September 19, 1944) are debriefed after Operation Chastise, which destroyed the Mohne and Oder Dams in the Ruhr on May 16/17 1943 to disrupt electricity generation for munitions factories. From left to right: Standing are Head of Bomber Command Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Travers Harris (April 13, 1892 - April 5, 1984) and 5 Group Commander Air Vice Marshal Sir Ralph Alexander Cochrane (February 24, 1895 - December 17, 1977) as they observe the debriefing. Seated facing the camera are Intelligence Officer Squadron Leader Townson; Bombardier Pilot Officer Frederick Michael "Spam" Spafford (June 16, 1918 - September 16, 1943) of Wayville, Adelaide, Australia; and Navigator Pilot Officer Torger Harlo "Terry" Taerum (May 22, 1920 - September 16, 1943) Seated with their backs to the camera are, in the foreground, Rear Turret Gunner Flight Lieutenant Richard Algernon Dacre Trevor-Roper (May 19, 1915 - March 31, 1944) of Isle of Wight, England; obscured are Flight Engineer Sergeant John Pulford (???? - February 13, 1944) of Hull, England; Front Turret Gunner Flight Sergeant George Andrew "Tony" Deering (???? - September 16, 1943) of Ireland and Canada; and Wireless Operator Flight Lieutenant Robert Edward Hutchinson (1918 - September 16, 1943) of Liverpool, England. This crew flew an Avro Lancaster B Mark III Special, serial #ED932, marked AJ-G, modified to carry the 9,250-pound (4196-kilogram) Vickers Type 464 spinning bomb codenamed "Upkeep" designed by Sir Barnes Neville Wallis (September 26, 1887 - October 30, 1979). This bomb was rotated as it hung exposed in the bomb bay of the Lancaster, and then dropped from 60 feet (18.2 meters), which was maintained by visually observing two spotlights mounted fore and aft and angled to intersect at that altitude. A simple bombsight of a stick with two nails aligned with the towers of the Mohne Dam for optimal release distance at 4
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IPTC: Copyright Notice
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Caption ©2007 MFA Productions LLC
Image in the Public Domain
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