Dambusters Raid – The Canadian Contribution
As with all aspects of the history of Bomber Command, Canadians played a major role in the Dams Raid. Of the 133 airmen that set out on the raid, 30…
The Dambusters Raid 16/17 May, 1943
As with all aspects of the history of Bomber Command, Canadians played a major role in the Dams Raid. Of the 133 airmen that set out on the raid, 30…
by Elinor Florence Fred Sutherland of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, is now Canada's last surviving Dambuster - one of only two men left in the world who participated in one…
Harlo Taerum's father immigrated from Norway and established a farm near Milo, Alberta, 70 km northeast of Nanton. Tragically, he drowned when Harlo was ten years old. Despite playing a…
by Paul Morley It was a moonlit evening on May 16, 1943. Nineteen specially modified Avro Lancaster bombers of the Royal Air Force took off from RAF Base Scampton, and…
Joe McCarthy was born on Long Island, New York in 1919 and grew up in New York City. Fascinated by aircraft and flying, he worked as a lifeguard at Coney…
This article was first published in the July, 2003 issue of "Airlines," WestJet's In-Flight magazine. It was donated to the Society by the author, a freelance writer who resides in…
by Shandel M. Brown Shandel Brown is the grand-daughter of F/Sgt. Ken Brown CGM. Ms. Brown presented this paper at a high school International Baccaloriate colloquium that was open to…
Ken Brown liked the Bomber Command Museum (formerly the Nanton Lancaster Air Museum). He had visited the museum and our Lancaster on a number of occasions prior to our requesting…
The Dams Raid was conceived in the brilliant mind of Barnes Wallis, an experienced aircraft designer. Wallis had designed the very successful Wellington bomber that had been operational since the…
At 9:30 pm on May 16, 1943 W/C Gibson took off to lead No. 617 Squadron to the Dams. The primary tactic that was used to reach the targets was…
After rendezvousing with other first wave aircraft, Gibson manoeuvred into position and announced, "I am going in to attack." His navigator, Terry Taerum, took his position on the starboard side…
The Eder was the largest dam in western Germany. There were no anti-aircraft defences but the geography made it a very difficult target. On his fifth attempt F/L Shannon was…