Dam Busters Manual
A guide to the weapons technology used against the dams and the special targets of Nazi-occupied Europe
by Iain Murray - published by Haynes Publishing
Aeroplane magazine's "Book of the Month" for May 2013!
Click image above for larger version PDF
Details
by Iain Murray - published by Haynes Publishing
Aeroplane magazine's "Book of the Month" for May 2013!
Click image above for larger version PDF
Details
Published 4th August 2011 but now out of print - hardcover, 160 pages (26.7 x 21 x 2 cm approx.). It includes 50 colour and 125 black & white illustrations (plans, photos and other images). The book is primarily a technical manual, giving details of the special
weapons used by 617 Squadron and 9 Squadron, the modifications to the Lancaster to carry them, as well as details of the
targets themselves in a series of detailed Target Profiles. Sideboxes include extra information on topics such as bomb fuzing and marking, bomb aiming and detailed specifications of the weapons.
Outline of Contents
- Chapter 1 - Introduction
- The dams as targets
- The 10-ton bomb
- Chapter 2 - Development of the "Bouncing Bomb"
- The "bouncing bomb" is born
- Constructing the "bouncing bomb"
- Fuzing
- The Type 464 Provisioning Lancaster
- Loading Upkeep
- Setting the release height
- Setting the release distance
- Final preparations
- Chapter 3 - Operation Chastise - “The Dams Raid”
- A new squadron is formed
- Final preparations and briefing
- Take off
- Attacking the Mohne
- Attacking the Eder
- Attacking the Sorpe and other dams
- Return
- The effects of the raid
- Further "dam busting" operations
- Highball
- Chapter 4 - The 12,000lb HC “Blockbuster” Bomb
- High capacity bombs
- The "Blockbuster"
- Fuzing
- Modifications to the Lancaster
- Loading the Blockbuster
- Blockbuster targets
- Chapter 5 - Development of the "Earthquake Bombs"
- What is an "earthquake bomb”?
- Development and testing of Tallboy
- Fuzing
- Modifications to the Lancaster
- Bomb trolley
- Fitting the tail unit
- Loading Tallboy
- Bombing tactics
- Grand Slam
- The Lancaster B.1 "Special"
- Chapter 6 - The “Earthquake Bomb” Raids
- Preparing for Tallboy
- Tallboy arrives
- The V-weapon sites
- The U-boat pens
- Tirpitz (including the JW mine)
- Dams again
- Miscellaneous targets
- Bridges
- Grand Slam arrives
- The last raids
- Further developments
- Review of the deep penetration bombs
- Chapter 7 - High-level Bomb Aiming
- Bomb aiming
- The Mk.XIV / T.1 bomb sight
- Automatic bomb sights
- The Stabilised Automatic Bomb Sight (SABS)
- Appendices
- Appendix 1 - 617 Squadron Crews on Operation Chastise, 16-17 May 1943
- Appendix 2 - Type 464 Provisioning Lancasters
- Appendix 3 - Lancaster B.1 “Specials”
- Appendix 4 - Bombs on Display
The Dam Busters Manual is now out of print, but copies can be found in the second-hand market.