Customer Reviews

The dam busters

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I have read, and re-read this book many times over the last several years. Having studied 617 Squadron operations in general, and meeting some of the few survivors, I can't get enough of the inside story on this wonderful special-ops squadron. Also please read Enemy Coast Ahead, by Guy Gibson,who was the original Dambuster's leader. I find many of the ops after the dams raid to be even more interesting and harrowing !! This is a great read for general interest and true buffs alike.

What a great little story from WWII. I heard about this successful raid, and finally I stumbled upon this great little book describing the raid. The book starts by describing the thought process of Wallace who thought the dams would be a worthy target of British bombers. The floods would destroy factories and limit the output of water and energy in the industrial Ruhr area.
Wallace had to surmount bomber limitations, design a new type of bomb, and devise a method on how to deliver the bomb load against the side of the dam. These processes are all investigated and solved in the course of this book. The final bombing run is the high point of the book with the successful destruction of the dams. The loss in bomber crews plus the German civilian losses are also summarized. I wish the book could have focused more on the later aspects of the raid, rather than the science that went in solving how to destroy the dams. Otherwise a great read.

I first read this story as a freshman in high school and couldn't put it down! I have re-read the book several times since then. The adventures of 617 Squadron have all of the elements of an Indiana Jones movie; from the most inovative, fantastic, and bizarre ideas (five-ton bouncing bombs to ten-ton, earthquake producing "Tall Boy" bombs) to shear, white-knuckle, edge-of-your-seat danger (low-level night flying over Nazi Germany). Check out Paul Brickhill's "The Great Escape" and "Reach for the Sky." You won't be disapointed

An absolute classic, "The Dam Busters" follows the adventures of 617 squadron. From its inception specifically for the attack on the Moehne and Eder dams to the destruction of the German battleship "Tirpitz" 617 Squadron showed the British just as capable at pinpoint targeting as their American cousins. Everytime I pick-up a text on the "heavies" I am reminded of the heroism and sacrifice of the amazing individuals who were carried aloft by them. Be sure to check out the "WWII Aviation Booklist" for more reviews: http://www.ampsc.com/~prophet/booklist.html

This story is a writer's godsend - a fantastic story that has historical implications, interesting characters that are also heroes, very important situations and settings, tension and high drama. Brickhill does a great job telling the story of the squadron that became known as the Dambusters. This book gives us the story behind the raid - he science and hard work developing the technology behind the success. It also follows the further raids of the men of 617, and the development of the bombing technology as the war continues.

Brickhill balances the story between the technology and the human. All of 617 come across as sterling chaps, which is to be expected. I was surprised that the writing in this book did not seem dated, considering when it was written.

While not really `faults' there are some `less than perfections': while Cochrane, Wallis, Gibson and Chester all are clear and memorable characters (these are major players in the book), many other characters get the occasional mention here and there that leaves you wondering `And which one was he?' This is also a book aimed a people with military knowledge. Therefore if a reader is not completely au fait with military terms (or fortunate enough to have someone nearby who is, like I was) you may occasionally feel a bit clueless. And after the last major action of the book - the sinking of the Tirpitz - the book seems to lose its edge (though the epilogue is a very good roundup of what happened to whom). But overall this is an entertaining read by a great writer about an exciting story. Not just for World War II flying buffs.

Back in the bad ol' WWII days, dropping a bomb on top of a dam that was 300 feet thick at the base, just wouldn't get the job done. Plus the planes of that period could not carry more than one thousand-pounder and not even that one would provide a destructive flood over the industrial valleys downstream where the German war machine was in high gear. This book details the theory and experimentation and testing of a new kind of bomb, designed--believe it or not--to skip along the surface of the lake and sink in just the right spot to provide a seismic shock against the thick foundation of the dams. Plus this huge thing had to be suspended underneath the bomber and had to be spinning backwards at just the right rate in order to skip. Daily bombardment of London added urgency to the project and great pressure to complete it. These brave airmen flew repeatedly at suicidally low altitudes through thick flack and other intense German defenses to deliver the explosive canisters at just the right angle and height and speed, and even had to improvise a new bomb-sight in order to do this. Not all of them got back to the bases in England, but lots of valleys and towns and factories were washed away when the dams were blown up. People who've always lived in the era of smart bombs and drone recon and unmanned rocket launchers, won't understand this book very well. But it's a thrilling and true re-enactment of a desperate time and a frantic response against an enemy bombing schools and hospitals in Britain every day.

This book reads very quickly and it's very interesting. Written by the man who wrote The Great Escape, this is a real winner for war buffs. The book goes past the dam buster mission and the attrition rate for this wing was over 50% (if I remember the book I think it was close to 100%). Just imagine using a 4 engine Lancaster on low level mission after low level mission, the courage these men had is hard to find in todays culture. I have a LOT of respect for these brave airmen. Highly recommended book.

If you've ever seen The Dam Busters on tv, this is the book of it and it's brilliant fun reading about the exploits of Barnes Wallis and 617 squadron and not just for the bombing of the Merner and Eder dams.

Most of the book is dedicated to the Dambusting but, to be fair, it is the title! The bombing raid involved the now legendary bouncing bomb and crack pilots to bomb the two dams. Apparently the bombing caused industrial production to slip 20% one month and so was crucial to ending the war early as it deprived Germany of many man-hours of production.

The rest of the book I found more interesting as it moves onto more unfamiliar territory. Barnes Wallis, who designed the bouncing bomb, also designed 'Tall boys' and 'Earthquake' bombs which did serious damage to Nazi Germany. The book also details the bombing of the Tirpitz, and a bombing where 617 squadron bombed a French factory and intentionally left the canteen (where the workers were) untouched!

The technology of Pathfinding Mustangs and Earthquake bombs meant highly accurate bombing raids years ahead of their time and meant the war was ended sooner rather than later.

This book is a fascinating read and good for anyone who admires heroism and ingenuity.

Paul Brickhill's "The Dam Busters" is the classic account of the Royal Air Force's elite 617 Squadron of Lancaster bombers, responsible among other World War Two exploits for the 1943 destruction of the Ruhr Dams in Germany. "The Dam Busters" was the basis for the 1954 movie of the same name, starring Richard Todd. Brickhill was himself an RAF veteran who also authored "The Great Escape".

As Brickhill makes clear, the RAF was constantly forced to seek new and innovative weapons and tactics to overcome the defenses of Hitler's Germany. A key factor in that struggle was eccentric but dedicated British engineer Barnes Wallis, who designed one of Britain's first long range four engine bombers and who developed the unique munitions used against the Ruhr dams. Wallis would later invent a series of heavy special purpose munitions for hard targets in Germany and occupied Europe, including Germany's V-series weapons.

A second key factor in the air war were the uniquely talented and gutsy air crew of 617 Squadron. Led initially by Victoria Cross winner Wing Commander Guy Gibson, 617 Squadron developed the flying skills and espirit de corps to press home precision attacks against vital but often heavily defended targets. Their heavy casualties in the Ruhr attacks would lead to increasingly precise bombing and pathfinding techniques that cut losses while ensuring the effective delivery of munitions on target.

Brickhill's highly readable account follows 617 Squadron and its many prominent personalities from the 1943 formation of the unit through its final missions in 1945 against a dying Third Reich. "The Dam Busters" is very highly recommended to students of air warfare in the Second World War.

I have completed the book and it is so interesting. Bickhill is an excellent writer and I expect to get more of his writings. I rate this book right at the top. Would definitely recommend.