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No.617 Sqn
Country : UK
Founded : 23rd March 1943
Codes : , AJ, YZ, KC,
Apres mois, le deluge - After me, the flood
| David Pentland No.617 Sqn Aviation Art Prints, Paintings and Drawings Aviation Art |
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| Text for the above items : |
Dam Defenders by David Pentland. Mohne Dam, Ruhr Valley, 16th-17th May 1943. On the fifth and final attempt to breach the Mohne dam, Flt. Lt Maltby was flanked by the aircraft of Gibson and Martin who attempted to suppress the German flak defences. |
Tribute to the 617 Sqn Dambusters Crew of Lancaster AJ-G by David Pentland. The image shows Lancaster AJ-G attacking the Mohne dam. Alongside is the portrait of AJ-G pilot Wing Cdr G P Gibson. The very first aircraft to attack the dams, AJ-G dropped its bomb short of the Mohne, but drew anti-aircraft fire away from the following Lancasters, before returning home safely Crew of G for George : Pilot : Wing Cdr G P Gibson Flight Engineer : Sgt J Pulford Navigator : Plt Off H T Taerum Wireless Operator : Flt Lt R E G Hutchison Bomb Aimer : Plt Off F M Spafford Front Gunner : Flt Sgt G A Deering Rear Gunner : Flt Lt R D Trevor-Roper. |
Well on the Way to Make History - the Dambusters by David Pentland. The most famous raid of the second world war, the audacious Dambusters raid by Lancasters of No.617 Sqn was to wreak havoc in Germanys industrial heartland. Two dams will be destroyed on the raid - the Mohne and the Eder, flooding the valleys below and stopping production in their factories, providing an immeasurable morale boost for those back home. Here, two of the modified bombers pass windmills on the Dutch canals as they make their way to the first target, their almighty roar shattering the stillness and disturbing some of the local wildlife. As they approach Germany in the moonlight, the bombers are well on the way to make history. |
Tribute to the 617 Sqn Dambusters Crew of Lancaster AJ-N by David Pentland. The image shows Lancaster AJ-N pulling away after its successful breach of the Eder dam. Alongside is the portrait of AJ-N pilot Plt Off L J Knight. This aircraft was the third aircraft to make the tricky attack on the Eder dam. Despite the approach being made difficult by the terrain, AJ-N successfully breached the Eder dam with its bomb, and returned home safely. Crew of N for Nan : Pilot : Plt Off L J Knight Flight Engineer : Sgt R E Grayston Navigator : Flg Off H S Hobday Wireless Operator : Flt Sgt R G T Kellow Bomb Aimer : Flg Off E C Johnson Front Gunner : Sgt F E Sutherland Rear Gunner : Sgt H E O'Brien. |
The Secret Weapon by David Pentland. RAF Scampton, 16th May 1943. Ground crew deliver the top secret bouncing bombs to the Lancasters of 617 Squadron in preparation for Operation Chastise. |
GONER 58A - Mohne Dam, Germany, 17th May 1943 by David Pentland. Avro Lancaster AJ-P of Flt. Lt. Martin 617 Squadron releases the bomb that successfully breaches the Mohne dam. In the foreground the electrical substation is burning from a previous attack by Flt.Lt. Hopgood. |
Target Y The Eder Dam Raid, The Ruhr Valley, 17th May 1943 by David Pentland. At 0154am, Pilot officer Les Knight in Avro Lancaster AJ-N transmitted the codeword Dinghy, the signal that the Eder Dam had been successfully breached. Although the target was undefended by flak, its location made it extremely difficult to hit. In fact, four of the five aircraft involved in the attack failed in their attempts and Knight's was the last available aircraft carrying the last available bomb! |
Tribute to the 617 Sqn Dambusters Crew of Lancaster AJ-P by David Pentland. The image shows Lancaster AJ-P attacking the Mohne dam. Alongside is the portrait of AJ-P pilot Flt Lt H B Martin. This aircraft was the third to attack the Mohne dam, and although the bomb was dropped successfully, it veered to the side of the dam and exploded off target. The aircraft returned safely. Crew of P for Popsie : Pilot : Flt Lt H B Martin Flight Engineer : Plt Off I Whittaker Navigator : Flt Lt J F Leggo Wireless Operator : Flg Off L Chambers Bomb Aimer : Flt Lt R C Hay Front Gunner : Plt Off B T Foxlee Rear Gunner : Flt Sgt T D Simpson. |
Tribute to the 617 Sqn Dambusters Crew of Lancaster AJ-L by David Pentland. The image shows Lancaster AJ-L lining up for the attack on the Eder dam. Alongside is the portrait of AJ-L pilot Flt Lt D J Shannon. The first aircraft to attempt an attack the Eder dam, AJ-L made several unsuccessful attempts at lining up to drop the bomb, hampered by the difficult approach to the dam. After allowing AJ-Z to drop its bomb, AJ-L made a final successful attack on the dam, its bomb exploding accurately, but failing to cause a breach. The aircraft returned to base safely. Crew of L for Leather : Pilot : Flt Lt D J Shannon Flight Engineer : Sgt R J Henderson Navigator : Flg Off D R Walker Wireless Operator : Flg Off B Goodale Bomb Aimer : Flt Sgt L J Sumpter Front Gunner : Sgt B Jagger Rear Gunner : Flg Off J Buckley. |
Topping Up by David Pentland. Lancaster of 617 Sqn refueling at Scampton, May 1943, in preparation for Operation Chastise. |
Tractor Girl by David Pentland. Lancaster AJ-T of No.617 Sqn being towed by tractor to its dispersal slot by a Women's Auxiliary Air Force driver at Scampton, May 1943, in preparation for Operation Chastise. |
Tribute to the 617 Sqn Dambusters Crew of Lancaster AJ-A by David Pentland. The image shows Lancaster AJ-A attacking the Mohne dam, successfully causing a small breach. Alongside is the portrait of AJ-A pilot Sqn Ldr H M Young. This aircraft was shot down over the Dutch coast on the return journey, with the loss of all crew. Crew of A for Apple : Pilot : Sqn Ldr H M Young Flight Engineer : Sgt D T Horsfall Navigator : Flt Sgt D W Roberts Wireless Operator : Sgt L W Nichols Bomb Aimer : Flg Off V S MacCausland Front Gunner : Sgt G A Yeo Rear Gunner : Sgt W Ibbotson. |
Tribute to the 617 Sqn Dambusters Crew of Lancaster AJ-M by David Pentland. The image shows Lancaster AJ-M attacking the Mohne dam. Alongside is the portrait of AJ-M pilot Flt Lt J V Hopgood. The second aircraft to attack the target, the aircraft was hit by flak, and its bomb bounced over the dam. Caught in the blast from its own bomb, the aircraft crashed soon after passing over the dam, with just two of the crew surviving. Crew of M for Mother : Pilot : Flt Lt J V Hopgood Flight Engineer : Sgt C Brennan Navigator : Flg Off K Earnshaw Wireless Operator : Sgt J W Minchin Bomb Aimer : Sgt J W Fraser (survived) Front Gunner : Plt Off G H F G Gregory Rear Gunner : Plt Off A F Burcher (survived). |
| No.617 Sqn RAF Aircraft details |
 Lancaster Manufacturer : Avro Built : 7377 | Lancaster The Avro Lancaster arose from the avro Manchester and the first prototype Lancaster was a converted Manchester with four engines. The Lancaster was first flown in January 1941, and started operations in March 1942. By March 1945 The Royal Air Force had 56 squadrons of Lancasters with the first squadron equipped being No.44 Squadron. During World War Two the Avro Lancaster flew 156,000 sorties and dropped 618,378 tonnes of bombs between 1942 and 1945. Lancaster Bomberss took part in the devastating round-the-clock raids on Hamburg during Air Marshall Harris' "Operation Gomorrah" in July 1943. Just 35 Lancasters completed more than 100 successful operations each, and 3,249 were lost in action. The most successful survivor completed 139 operations, and the Lancaster was scrapped after the war in 1947. A few Lancasters were converted into tankers and the two tanker aircraft were joined by another converted Lancaster and were used in the Berlin Airlift, achieving 757 tanker sorties. A famous Lancaster bombing raid was the 1943 mission, codenamed Operation Chastise, to destroy the dams of the Ruhr Valley. The operation was carried out by 617 Squadron in modified Mk IIIs carrying special drum shaped bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis. Also famous was a series of Lancaster attacks using Tallboy bombs against the German battleship Tirpitz, which first disabled and later sank the ship. The Lancaster bomber was the basis of the new Avro Lincoln bomber, initially known as the Lancaster IV and Lancaster V. (Becoming Lincoln B1 and B2 respectively.) Their Lancastrian airliner was also based on the Lancaster but was not very successful. Other developments were the Avro York and the successful Shackleton which continued in airborne early warning service up to 1992. |
 Mosquito Manufacturer : De Havilland Built : 7781 | Mosquito Used as a night fighter, fighter bomber, bomber and Photo-reconnaissance, with a crew of two, Maximum speed was 425 mph, at 30,300 feet, 380mph at 17,000ft. and a ceiling of 36,000feet, maximum range 3,500 miles. the Mosquito was armed with four 20mm Hospano cannon in belly and four .303 inch browning machine guns in nose. Coastal strike aircraft had eight 3-inch Rockets under the wings, and one 57mm shell gun in belly. The Mossie at it was known made its first flight on 25th November 1940, and the mosquito made its first operational flight for the Royal Air Force as a reconnaissance unit based at Benson. In early 1942, a modified version (mark II) operated as a night fighter with 157 and 23 squadron's. In April 1943 the first De Haviland Mosquito saw service in the Far east and in 1944 The Mosquito was used at Coastal Command in its strike wings. Bomber Commands offensive against Germany saw many Mosquitos, used as photo Reconnaissance aircraft, Fighter Escorts, and Path Finders. The Mosquito stayed in service with the Royal Air Force until 1955. and a total of 7781 mosquito's were built. |
| No.617 Sqn RAF Pilot and aircrew signature details |
  Squadron Leader George L. Johnson DFM Our estimated value of this signature : £45 Died : 2022 | Squadron Leader George L. Johnson DFM Joining the RAF in 1940, George Johnson served with 97 Squadron before joining 617 Squadron. Bomb aimer on American Joe McCarthys Lancaster AJ-T, they attacked the Sorpe Dam, for which he was awarded the DFM. Commissioned a few months later, George retired from the RAF in 1962. The last surviving Dambuster, he died aged 101 on 7th December 2022. |
Corporal Kenneth Lucas Our estimated value of this signature : £30 Died : 2011 | Corporal Kenneth Lucas Ken Lucas joined the RAF in June 1940, and trained as ground crew for bomber Command. He was sent first to 49 Squadron at RAF Scampton, before transferring to 617 Squadron upon its formation, Involved in all the major servicing of the aircraft before the raid including fitting the motors that drove the belt that spun the bomb, and attaching the critical lamps to the underside of the aircraft. Sadly, Ken Lucas passed away in January 2011. |
  Flight Sergeant Grant S McDonald RCAF Our estimated value of this signature : £45 Died : 2012 | Flight Sergeant Grant S McDonald RCAF Grant McDonald was the rear gunner on Lancaster AJ-F flown by Ken Brown. On the way to the Ruhr, the gunners shot up and damaged three trains in an eventful trip before reaching the Sorpe Dam. Sadly, we have learned that Grant S McDonald passed away in May 2012. |
Warrant Officer J D Phillips Our estimated value of this signature : £30 Died : 2014 | Warrant Officer J D Phillips Having qualified as a Flight engineer, he was one of the first crews to join 617 Sqn following the Dams raids and completed operations against the mighty Tirpitz Battle Ship. He died in April 2014. |
Flight Lieutenant Harold Riding Our estimated value of this signature : £25 | Flight Lieutenant Harold Riding Originally joining 106 Sqn as a WOp/AG he transferred to 617 Sqn where he did a full tour during from late 1943. He was the only person in the RAF to be promoted from ACI directly to Pilot Officer in only one day. |
  Sergeant Frederick E. Sutherland RCAF Our estimated value of this signature : £45 Died : 2019 | Sergeant Frederick E. Sutherland RCAF Doc Sutherland was the front gunner on Les Knights Lancaster AJ-N that went to the Mohne Dam, and then successfully attacked and breached the Eder Dam. Shot down four months later, he managed to evade capture and escape back to England with the help of the Resistance movements, returning through Holland, France and Spain. He died on 21st of January 2019. |
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