Wing Commander Guy Gibson returned from the dams Raid 75 years ago today. Here we have an original signature in the logbook of a wireless operator / airgunner who flew with 106 Squadron. Gibson was the Commanding officer at the time, hence the log is signed off by him each month. The date on this page is January 1943, just three months before the famous raid. From my own collection. #guygibson #ww2 #dambusters #lancasterbomber #avro #barneswallis #bouncingbomb #1943 #617squadron #106squadron #pilot #flying #aviation #logbook #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany

75th anniversary of the Dams Raid. Here we have a small collection of items relating to the Dam Busters, the dams Raid and 617 Squadron. First a 1st edition copy of Paul Brickhill's book about the raid signed 'S L Richardson, please return'. Richardson introduced the stabilizing automatic bomb sight to 617 sqdrn. In November 1943 when their Lancaster bombers were undergoing conversion to use Barnes Wallis's 12,000 lb tallboy bomb and required the higher accuracy of the SABS. Richardson is mentioned in the book and is referred to as 'talking bomb' as he lived and breathed bombing. He flew on 15 raids with 617 to watch his beloved bomb sight in action. This book is Richardson's own unique copy. We also have some original period photos of the Mohne dam, intact and after it was breached. 75 years ago today the Lancaster bombers returned following the raid. Of the 133 men who took off 58 never returned. 55 killed in action and 3 taken prisoner of war. 1300 people also perished in the aftermath of the bombing and subsequent flooding. Lest we forget. #dambusters #raf #raf100 #dambusters75 #guygibson #617squadron #rafscampton #lancasterbomber #ww2 #barneswallis #bouncingbomb #damsraid #1943 #vintagephotos #paulbrickhill #mohnedam #ederdam #torpedam #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany #dansnow

On the night of 16-17th May 1943, Wing Commander Guy Gibson led 617 Squadron on a raid to destroy three dams in the Ruhr valley Germany using the specially developed 'bouncing' bomb. Flying in specially modified Lancaster bombers they flew at a height of just 60 feet over the water before dropping their bombs. The raid was codenamed 'operation chastise' and the bomb, designed by Sir Barnes Wallis, was called 'Upkeep'. The three main targets were the Mohne, Elder and Sorpe dams.19 aircraft took part, setting off in 3 waves. Gibson led the attack on the Mohne. It took 5 bombs to breach the dam wall. The Elder was also breached but the Sorpe remained intact. Of the 133 crew involved in the raid, 53 died and 3 became POWs. The bombs and subsequent flooding killed around 1300 on the ground. Although the long term effects of the raid were short lived, it provided a huge moral boost to the British war effort. Here we have a copy of the Daily Telegraph from Tuesday 18th May reporting the raid. It had been signed by various aircrew who flew on the raid including Douglas Webb, Ken Brown - pilot of 'F' for Freddie, Grant MacDonald, Basil Fearon, Thomas Simpson, Bill Townsend and Les Munroe. Also shown is a copy of the sheet music for the Dam Busters march, signed by composer, Eric Coates. Appropriate for today, the 75th anniversary of the raid. #bombercommand #arthurtharris #bomberharris #dailytelegraph #1943 #dambusters #avro

British official photograph issued in January 1943. Shows a flight of RAF Lysanders over tropical Madagascar hills. Lysanders were used in this campaign for anti-invasion and anti-submarine patrols and later took part in the successful southern advance providing close support bombing'. A recent addition to the website. #ww2 #raf #vintagephoto #lysander #1940s #pilot #flying #aviationcollectibles #aviation #soe #aircrew #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany

WW2 press photo with a Fabulous image of a Spitfire being manouvred by various pilots. Good range of flying clothing is worn including 1936 pattern boots, 1941 pattern Mae Wests, C-type helmets etc.. #ww2 #vintagephoto #flying #flyingclothing #spitfire #aircrew #supermarine #flyinghelmet #1940s #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany

Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire. An impressive Elizabethan manor house built at the end of the 16th century by Elizabeth Shrewsbury (Bess if Hardwick) with no expense spared. She was 70 yeas old when construction began. It was occupied by her descendants until the 1950s when death duties forcd them to sell to the national trust. Exterior shots of the hall were used as Malfoy Manor in the Harry Potter films. #hardwickhall #nationaltrust #malfoymanor #malfoy #harrypotter #jkrowling #luciousmalfoy #deatheater #bessofhardwick #1597 #danielradcliffe #therealmalfoymanor #filmlocation #harrypotterfilmlocation

Official WW2 British press photo shows a RAF Baltimore releasing bombs over the snow covered mountains near the town of Sulmona in Italy. The target was the railway sidings below. Dated February 1944. #ww2 #raf #bombercommand #vintagephoto #oldphotos #pressphoto #1940s #flying #aviationcollectibles #avition #pilot #aircrew #sortie #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany

WW2 Thermally insulated Irvin flying jacket. Typical early war configuration with single panel front and single seam back panel construction. Size 6 and with 1939 contract date on the label. Available now on the website. #ww2 #raf#irvin #irvinairchute #flying #vintageleatherjacket #vintageflyingjacket #flyingjacket #aviationcollectibles #aviation #pilot #aircrew #1940s #1940sclothing #1939 #warintheair #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany

WW2 RAF thermally insulated Irvin flying jacket. Typical early war configuration with single panel front and single seam back panel construction. A good looking jacket. Full details on the website now. #ww2 #raf #flying #irvin #irvinairchute #flyingjacket #vintageleatherjacket #vintageclothing #1940s #1940sclothing #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany #aviationcollectibles #aviation #pilot #aircrew #battleofbritain

WW2 RAF thermally insulated Irvin flying jacket. Later war multiple panel construction. Replacement zips but a good solid jacket. Available from the website now. #ww2 #raf #irvin #irvinairchute #flyingjacket #vintageclothing #vintageleatherjacket #leatherjacket #aviationcollectibles #aviation #flying #pilot #aircrew #1940sclothing #1940s #vintagethreads #fightercommand #bombercommand #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany

RAF thermally insulated Irvin flying jacket. Size 4. Mid war configuration with multiple panel construction. Very good used condition. Available from the website now. #ww2 #raf #irvinairchute #irvin #flyingjacket #vintageclothing #vintage #flying #aviation #vintageleatherjacket #1940s #1940sclothing #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany #pilot #faa #ata

View towards the fabulous medieval castle at Conwy, North Wales. Built by Edward I between 1283 and 1289. Very complete and has many accessible towers/turrets affording excellent views over the lovely walled market town. Apologies for the poor photo! #conwy #conwycastle #northwales #welshcastle #kingedwardI #medeival #walledtown #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany

View to South Stack lighthouse on an islet just off the north coast of the Isle of Anglesey. Built in 1806. Now fully automated. Great view from the top. The photos are taken close to the site of a gun emplacement/wartime observation post. #ww2 #gunemplacement #lighthouse #southstack #anglesey #wales #coastline #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany

Chocolate dogs on tour... #chocolatelab #labradorretriever #chocolatelabrador #dogsofinstagram #beachdog #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany

No parking, pah, come and get me traffic wardens... #chocolatelab #labradorretriever #dogsofinstagram #yellowlines #trafficwarden #nostopping #noparking #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany

Another original WW2 War Savings Campaign poster. Vibrant colours for this striking image. #ww2 #warsavings #warsavingscampaign #vintageposter #poster #flag #waroffice #warartists #1940s #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany

Original British war savings campaign poster. Lovely vibrant image of a soldier by official war artist Harold Forster. #ww2 #vintageposter #warsavings #warartist #warartists #haroldforster #britisharmy #soldier #1940s #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany #poster #salutethesoldiers

Great artwork on this original French cinema promotional poster for the 1969 film 'Operation V-2', better known as 'Mosquito Squadron' and starring David McCallum. The storyline follows a RAF raid on a prison holding French resistance members. #filmposter #originalposter #movieposter #mosquito #dehavilland #davidmccallum #cinema #movies #raf #ww2 #aviation #v-2 #frenchresistance #pickard #amiensraid

Original RAF calendar from 1943. Lovely photos of classic wartime aircraft #raf #ww2 #royalairforce #vintagecalendar #1940s #aviation #flying #spitfire #wellington #fighter #bombercommand #hurricane #stirlingbomber #sunderlandflyingboat #thehistoricflyingclothingcompany

Happy Easter and a Happy 100th birthday to the Royal Air Force. The world's first independent air force. Per Ardua Ad Astra. #happyeaster #raf100 #raf #19182018 #trenchard #eggcup #vintageeggcup