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The RAF Dambuster Mentality – then and now


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ndertaken by professionally competent and dedicated airmen, using complex planning and flying skills


the Dambuster raid of 1943 required powerful, focussed leadership and close co-operation of scientists, industry, and airmen. Requirements and demands that remain core to the Royal Air Force of today.


Through dedicated training, enormous courage and displays of great flying skill, just 133 airmen in 19 aircraft achieved enormous physical, moral and political effect on friends, allies and foes alike. The raid required imagination, understanding of the enemy and accurate pre- and post- raid intelligence.


On the night of 19-20 Mar 11, Tornadoes taking off from RAF Marham flew 3000 mile missions to hit targets in Libya using Storm Shadow precision missiles. Later, Tornadoes and Typhoon used Brimstone and Paveway precision guided munitions against Gaddaffi’s forces.


With only 11 weeks from go-ahead to execution of the raid. Wg Cdr Guy Gibson, at the age of 24, had just eight weeks from formation of 617 Squadron to prepare. He not only recruited and trained aircrew to perform at the very high level required but co-operated closely with Barnes Wallis to develop the weapon and it’s means of delivery.


Aircrew were a coalition of the willing: British, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and American airmen, including a large proportion of reservists as well as regulars.


Like the Dambusters this required leadership, courage, and a professional understanding of air power, together with the ability to plan and deliver the effect required far from home at short notice, demanding complex co-ordination of strike aircraft, tankers and other coalition aircraft.


Air-led intelligence, surveillance and targeting was key to successful air operations in Libya, including deployment of specialist aircraft such as Sentinel and Sentry. And Reservists continue to contribute in essential ways to current operations, just as they did in 1943.


The latest parallel


RAF personnel today are still in the business of achieving strategic effect at short notice and long range with specialist weapons specialised training and high-order skills.


These skills, as in 1943, can only be developed and nurtured by dint of long- term investment in dedicated air power specialists with appropriate professional knowledge. And again the mission achieved significant moral and political effect on friend and foe alike. In 2011 the coalition of the willing included other NATO partners and friendly arab states, including the UAE and Qatar.


www.raf-ff.org.uk


Envoy Spring 2013


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