Operation Chastise

Wallpaper Description:

Before the Second World War, the British Air Ministry had identified the industrialised Ruhr Valley, and especially its dams, as important strategic targets.
In addition to providing hydroelectric power and pure water for steel-making, they supplied drinking water and water for the canal transport system.

Calculations indicated that attacks with large bombs could be effective but required a degree of accuracy which RAF Bomber Command had been unable to attain when attacking a well defended target. A one-off surprise attack might succeed but the RAF lacked a weapon suitable to the task.

Operation Chastise was an attack on German dams carried out on 16–17 May 1943 by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, later called the Dam Busters, using a purpose-built "bouncing bomb" developed by Barnes Wallis. The Möhne and Edersee Dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley and of villages in the Eder valley; the Sorpe Dam sustained only minor damage. Two hydroelectric power stations were destroyed and several more damaged. Factories and mines were also damaged and destroyed. An estimated 1,600 civilians, about 600 Germans and 1,000 mainly Soviet forced labourers died. Despite rapid repairs by the Germans, production did not return to normal until September.

andymackie22 Uploaded by andymackie22 on Jan 3, 2018. Operation Chastise - Desktop Nexus Aircraft Download free wallpapers and background images: Operation Chastise. Desktop Nexus Aircraft background ID 2342068. Before the Second World War, the British Air Ministry had identified the industrialised Ruhr Valley, and especially its dams, as important strategic targets.
In addition to providing hydroelectric power and pure water for steel-making, they supplied drinking water and water for the canal transport system.

Calculations indicated that attacks with large bombs could be effective but required a degree of accuracy which RAF Bomber Command had been unable to attain when attacking a well defended target. A one-off surprise attack might succeed but the RAF lacked a weapon suitable to the task.

Operation Chastise was an attack on German dams carried out on 16–17 May 1943 by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, later called the Dam Busters, using a purpose-built "bouncing bomb" developed by Barnes Wallis. The Möhne and Edersee Dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley and of villages in the Eder valley; the Sorpe Dam sustained only minor damage. Two hydroelectric power stations were destroyed and several more damaged. Factories and mines were also damaged and destroyed. An estimated 1,600 civilians, about 600 Germans and 1,000 mainly Soviet forced labourers died. Despite rapid repairs by the Germans, production did not return to normal until September. Rating: 4.2