Dambusters by Douglas C. Dildy

Author:Douglas C. Dildy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Dambusters: Operation Chastise 1943
ISBN: 9781780964621
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2011-12-28T16:00:00+00:00

Main force attacks Möhne Dam: 0028–0049

The Möhne-Talsperre was defended by 3. Batterie/Leichte Flak-Abteilung 840, a subordinate unit of Flak-Regiment 124 (‘Flakgruppe Dortmund’), commanded by a Leutnant Widmann. The unit was equipped with six single-barrelled, optically sighted and manually trained 20mm Flak 38 (Fliegerabwehrkanone 38) automatic cannon. Of these, two were positioned atop the sluice towers, one on the ‘overlook balcony’ on the northern wing of the dam, and the other three below the dam, along the north side of the compensating basin protecting the electricity-generating powerplant.

The Rheinmetall Flak 38 was an extremely effective light AA gun, firing 4oz (113g) armour-piercing and high-explosive shells at a rate of about 200 rounds per minute. Against airborne targets it had a maximum effective range of 7,218ft (2,200m), but doctrine dictated opening fire at approximately 3,280ft (1,000m), using open sights for the first burst and the flight of tracers to correct to the target.

As his aircraft arrived over the Möhnesee, wireless operator Flt Lt Robert ‘Hutch’ Hutchison, DFC, switched on the VHF and Gibson called for a ‘check-in’ of his section. ‘Cooler 2’ and ‘Cooler 3’ answered and the mission commander said: ‘Stand by, chaps, I’m going to look the place over’. At 0023 (according to 3./le Flak-Abt. 840) Gibson made one dummy run reconnoitring the target and its defences, then announced: ‘I like the look of it’.

According to one historian (and this is repeated by others), the ‘agreed tactic’ originated at the Köbecke bridge located on the main branch of the Möhnesee. However, there is no substantiation of this in the archives and while it may have been discussed during the briefing, Gibson after making his dummy run apparently favoured using the Torhaus bridge spanning the Hevearm des Möhnesees (the Heve branch of the Möhne lake) as the IP. He crossed this westbound and then turned right onto a course of 330° (magnetic) so as to point at the dam. He later wrote: ‘Straightening up we began to dive [across the Heversberg] towards the flat, ominous water two miles away [the ‘agreed tactic’ would have arrived on track only 1,640yd (1500m) from the dam]. Over the front turret was the dam silhouetted against the haze of the Ruhr Valley.’ The fact that he dived across the Heversberg is confirmed by bomb-aimer Plt Off Frederick ‘Spam’ Spafford, DFM, RAAF, warning Gibson: ‘You’re going to hit those trees!’

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