Two local men were Dam Busters 75 years ago today

SEVENTY-five years ago today two local men took part in the 1943 Dam Busters raid in Germany.

Squadron commander Dinghy Young based at Wellesbourne and squadron commander Henry Maudsley from Leamington lost their lives during the RAF raids on the Eder, Mohne and Sorpe dams in the Ruhr Valley using the ingenious bouncing bomb invented by Barnes Wallis.

After the first three bombs had failed to achieve a successful outcome it was the fourth bomb dropped by Young and the fifth by Maudsley that breached the Mohne dam.

Both men were number two support officers to wing commander Guy Gibson and were shot down in their aircraft during the daring mission.

There is a plaque in Sherbourne Church near Barford commemorating the life and bravery of Henry Maudsley and because of the significant role both men played supporting Guy Gibson both are featured in the 1955 film The Dam Busters starring Richard Todd.

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Dam Busters raid on 16th to 17th May 1943, Stratford-upon-Avon Picturehouse is screening live an evening of commemoration from The Royal Albert Hall. The Dam Busters at 75 starts at 7.15pm.

The evening includes showing a fully restored version of The Dam Busters after music from the Glenn Miller Orchestra and an onstage experiment to illustrate how the bouncing bomb invented by Barnes Wallis actually worked.