Watch Spectacular Scenes of Restored Dambusters Footage from the 1943 Bouncing Bomb Trials

In the spring of 1943, a daring operation unfolded that would later become one of the most talked-about missions of World War II. Known as the Dambusters raid, it took place on the night of May 16–17 and was aimed at destroying dams in the German Ruhr Valley, a key industrial region. The British Air Ministry had already considered these dams as important targets in the late 1930s. However, destroying them was seen as extremely difficult because of their large size and reinforced structure.

To overcome this challenge, engineer Barnes Wallis, working at Vickers, came up with a bold idea. Inspired by skipping stones across water as a child, he proposed a bouncing bomb that could skip across the surface of a lake, pass over underwater defenses, and detonate at the base of the dam wall. This would target the weaker spots beneath the surface and avoid the protective torpedo nets.

The Bouncing Bomb Concept

Wallis began his testing in a simple backyard setup using marbles and a tub of water to study angles and bounce distances. These early experiments were followed by trials in larger basins and on outdoor test sites. Eventually, he received permission to conduct full-scale tests using a Wellington bomber at Chesil Beach in Dorset.

Initial bomb models were drum-shaped and covered in wood. These early versions fell apart on impact with water. What remained secret until the 1970s was that the bomb had a backspin, which helped it bounce correctly. A specially modified Avro Lancaster was equipped with a spinning mechanism to give the bomb this spin before release. After repeated failures, Wallis realized the wooden casing was unnecessary. Eventually, he managed to get a bomb to bounce 20 times across nearly 400 meters. The final design required the aircraft to fly at just 18 meters altitude and at a speed of 232 mph.

Turning Ideas into Operation Chastise

A film showing these successful trials convinced the Air Ministry to move forward. But the bombing conditions were very complex. Pilots had to fly low and fast in the dark while hitting targets with extreme accuracy. Two spotlights under the aircraft were used to determine the correct height by aligning their beams on the water surface. A special visual device helped measure the distance to the dam.

RAF 617 Squadron was created specifically for this mission and was led by 25-year-old Wing Commander Guy Gibson. The unit also included 13 Australians. The bombers used for the operation were Avro Lancaster Mark III Special Type 464 aircraft, which could carry the 3,400 kg bouncing bomb.

The Night of the Raid

On the evening of May 16, 1943, two bomber formations took off from RAF Scampton. Their targets were the Möhne, Eder, and Sorpe Dams. A third group was held in reserve to strike if needed. The goal was to flood the Ruhr Valley and disrupt electricity production for German factories.

A code word—“Nigger,” after the squadron’s black Labrador mascot—was to be radioed when a dam was successfully breached. During the mission, the Möhne and Eder dams were both broken. The Sorpe Dam remained standing. The raid came at a heavy cost: out of 133 men, 56 were lost and 8 of the 19 aircraft did not return.

The restored footage closes with the names of all 133 crew members who took part, showing the seven-man teams aboard each Lancaster: a pilot, flight engineer, navigator, wireless operator, bomb aimer, and two gunners. The operation showed what was possible through innovation and precise teamwork, even in the most difficult circumstances.

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