"Royal Air Force Dambusters" by Melvyn Buckley — Signed and framed, with Certificate of Authenticity

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Pencil signed by the artist. With certificate of authenticity. In excellent condition. Beautifully matted and framed. About the raid "On the night of May 16 - 17, 1943, Wing Comman der Guy Gibson led 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force on an audacious bombing raid to destroy three dams in the Ruhr valley, the industrial heartland of Germany. The mission was codenamed Operation 'Chastise'. "The dams were fiercely protected. Torpedo nets in the water stopped underwater attacks and anti-aircraft guns defended them against enemy bombers.But 617 Squadron had a secret weapon: the 'bouncing bomb'. "The Möhne dam in Germany's Ruhr valley secured the water supply for much of the surrounding area. Water from its reservoir was also used to generate electricity. It was thought that destruction of this dam and others in the region would cause massive disruption to German war production. Plans for an attack on the dams had first been considered in 1937, but it took until 1942 to develop a weapon capable of destroying the dams - and the aircraft to deliver it." Three dams were targeted, two successfully, at a cost, for the allies of 53 men killed and three captured from a crew of 133 men. Source: The Imperial War Museum Image size: 18" x 26.5" Frame size: 27" x 35" Shipping: $75. Please allow two weeks for shipping. Historical background: Detailed account of the Dambusters Raid in 1943 here. Show more