12. The Breach of the Mohne Dam
To avoid detection by German radar, Guy Gibson’s Lancasters flew low, at a height of around 100 feet. One of the bombers had to abort the mission and turn back after it flew too low, struck water, and lost the explosive drum held beneath its belly. Soon thereafter, the radio on another Lancaster was damaged by antiaircraft fire, and it lost contact with its comrades and turned back. Then a third bomber was shot down. Not long afterward, a fourth went down after it struck electric pylons, and a fifth crashed when it flew into power lines. The rest pushed on to carry out the raid.
At the Mohne Dam, Guy Gibson made his attack run, then flew his bomber across the dam to draw antiaircraft fire while other Lancasters made their approaches. The next bomber was struck by antiaircraft fire, then suffered more damage from the blast of its own bomb, and crashed after its wing fell off. The third bomber was damaged by German fire, but managed to complete its attack run. Finally, after the fifth Lancaster made its run, the dam was breached.
