“The Fund are immensely proud to commemorate Operation Chastise on the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters raids.”
On 16 May wreaths were laid at the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park to mark 80 years since the Dambusters undertook their daring raid in the Second World War.
Air Vice-Marshal Chris Elliot, on behalf of the RAF Benevolent Fund, and Air Vice-Marshal Simon Edwards, on behalf of the Royal Air Force, laid wreaths at the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park to mark the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters Raids which took place on the night of 16 – 17 May 1943.
Members of the RAF’s 617 Squadron were assembled to conduct a bombing raid to destroy three dams in Germany’s Ruhr Valley. The mission known as Operation Chastise, involved 133 aircrew flying 19 specially adapted Lancaster bombers. 53 men were killed during the operation and three were captured.
RAF Benevolent Fund Controller Air Vice-Marshal Chris Elliot said
“The Fund are immensely proud to commemorate Operation Chastise on the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters raids. We pay tribute to the brave legacy of the members of the RAF’s 617 Squadron. Their loss must never be forgotten, and we will continue to honour their memory by supporting the Second World War and National Service veterans who require our help.”
