LADYBOWER: Lancaster bomber swoops to commemorate Dambusters

The Lancaster flew just metres above Derwent Reservoir’s Ladybower Dam, about 1.15pm, today, May 16, in clear and bright conditions as it was joined by Tornadoes from the famous 617 Squadron and a Spitfire.

People across Derbyshire turned their eyes skyward as the planes also flew above Chatsworth shortly afterwards. The flyover was captured on video by our photographer.

The 617 Squadron was originally formed as part of Operation Chastise which was a Second World War raid on Germany’s Ruhr dams using Barnes Wallis’ revolutionary bouncing bomb dropped by modified Lancaster bombers.

Crews trained for the operation at British reservoirs including the Derwent Dam and targeted German dams on May 16, 1943, because they had helped provide vital water and electricity for the Nazis’ war machine.

Two of the German dams were successfully destroyed by the bouncing bombs which were specially designed to repeatedly skim the water’s surface before smashing into the dam walls.