None of the brave men who flew on the ‘Dams Raid’ are alive today. Tom Allett met several veterans and here remembers conversations with two of them
One returned home, damaged, while the second survived being shot down. Here I recall conversations with two of the men who lived to tell the tale of Operation Chastise.
New Zealander Les Munro and Australian Tony Burcher survived the most famous air attack of World War Two. The fortunes of war dictated that their experiences varied enormously. Sadly, these brave men are no longer with us, but I am eternally grateful that they took time out to discuss their memories of arguably the most daring raid of all.
The ranks mentioned here are those held at the time of the raid and the full crew compositions can be seen on pages 92-97 of this issue. Their memories are recorded here to fit within the general timeline of the attack, therefore, starting with those of Les Munro whose damaged aircraft forced the crew to return to Scampton early with their Upkeep mine still attached.
Flt Lt Les Munro RNZAF
Pilot, ED921 / AJ-W
New Zealander John Leslie ‘Les’ Munro was chosen to fly one of five Lancasters that made up the second wave of Chastise attackers, flying the longest and most northerly route…
