Last Moments of the Möhne - by Robert Taylor

The Dambusters
- Last Moments of the Möhne Dam -
by Robert Taylor

The largest dam in Europe, the fortress-like walls of the Möhne held back nearly 140 million cubic meters of water essential to the
industry and factories of the Ruhr. The planners in the Air Ministry had long ago decided that if the Möhne dam, and the two other major Ruhr dams - the Eder and Sorpe - were destroyed, it could deliver a massive blow to the Nazi war machine.
However, cracking open the mighty dams would require exceptional flying skills; and so, on 21 March 1943, a new squadron was formed specifically for the task. Known as 617 Squadron and led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, it was not only the squadron that was unique, so was the weapon they would be using – 'Upkeep' - a cylindrical, hydrostatic ‘bouncing’ bomb. The brainchild of Barnes Wallis, Upkeep was designed to bounce across the surface of the water, sink against the dam’s massive wall, and to explode with enormous force at a precise depth.
There were only two problems; to work correctly Upkeep must be released exactly 60ft above the water surface and secondly, the pilot must maintain a fixed airspeed of 210mph. For seven weeks the crews of 617 Squadron trained for nothing else an now, at 00.20hrs on the morning of 17 May 1943 as the first arcs of deadly tracer came curving towards them, not only was their training to be put to the test, but so was Wallis’ ‘bouncing’ bomb.

Robert Taylor’s painting portrays the unfolding drama played out in those early hours of 17 May1943. Guy Gibson and Mick Martin have both made successful runs, and ‘Hoppy’ Hopgood, hit by the flak, has crashed in flames. The dam wall, however, has held firm. Now it was the turn of Melvin ‘Dinghy’ Young in Lancaster AJ-A.
In this scene, Gibson and Martin help draw the enemy’s fire as ‘Dinghy’ Young clears the dam’s parapet seconds after releasing his bomb. A few moments later Young’s bomb successfully detonated against the dam and deep groans rumbled through the granite wall as the shock ripped through it; under such stress the mighty blocks were imperceptibly shifting. The dam was mortally wounded.
The next aircraft to attack - David Maltby in AJ-J delivered the coup de grace. At last the Mõhne dam was breached and Gibson, with the remaining crews, turned south to successfully repeat the operation at the Eder Dam.

Created some years ago in preparation for the 70th Anniversary of Operation Chastise, the Collectors edition was personally signed by all of the survivors of the Dambuster raid still living at that time.

Overall size: 27" x 28"

Available in the following editions

300	Limited edition	Signed by three 'Dambusters' veterans	$325
275	Collectors edition	Signed by Five 'Dambusters' veterans	$375
25	Artist's proof	Signed by Five 'Dambusters' veterans	$525
19	Remarque	Signed by Five 'Dambusters' veterans - sold out
10	Double remarque	Signed by Five 'Dambusters' veterans - sold out
10	Tribute edition	With thirteen 'Dambusters' signatures and matted original drawing - sold out

Limited edition signatures
Sqdn Ldr. George L. Johnson	Corporal Kenneth Lucas	Sergeant Frederick E. Sutherland

Collectors, a/p & remarque edition signatures
Sqdn Ldr. George L. Johnson	Corporal Kenneth Lucas	Sergeant Frederick E. Sutherland
Flight Sgt. Grant S. McDonald	Sqdn Ldr. Les Munro

The Signatories

George L. Johnson
George Johnson flew with 97 Squadron before joining 617 Squadron as Bomb Aimer on Joe McCarthy’s Lancaster AJ-T which attacked the Sorpe Dam. Being a reserve aircraft, this aircraft was not fitted with the twin Aldis spotlights necessary for accurately gauging
height, so it was on their tenth attempt that George could finally release their bomb, scoring a direct hit, but the dam survived. He was awarded the DFM for the raid.

Kenneth Lucas
Joining the RAF in June 1940 as ground crew he was initially with 49 Squadron at RAF Scampton, before transferring to 617 Squadron on its formation. Involved in all the servicing of the Lancasters, Ken was heavily involved in carrying out the special modifications before the raid, including fitting the spinning mechanism for bomb, and attaching the crucial Aldis lamps to the underside of the aircraft.

Frederick E. Sutherland
Canadian ‘Doc’ Sutherland joined 50 Squadron in September 1942 before transferring to 617 Squadron. He was the front gunner on Les Knight’s Lancaster AJ-N that went first to the Möhne Dam, and then successfully attacked and breached the Eder Dam. Shot down four months later, he managed to evade capture and, with the help of the Resistance, escaped back to England.

Grant S. McDonald
The Canadian rear gunner on Lancaster AJ-F flown by Ken Brown. Flying at low level on the way to the Ruhr they were forced to take violent evasive actions when they encountered flak, large electricity pylons and tall trees. Grant and the other gunners still managed to shoot up and damage three trains before reaching, and attacking the Sorpe Dam.

Les Munro
New Zealander Les Munro was the pilot of Lancaster AJ-W assigned to attack the Sorpe Dam, and one of the three flight commanders on the Dams raid. He was forced to abort the mission en-route to the target after his Lancaster received such heavy flak-damage that it was unable to carry on. He went on to complete many more missions with 617 Squadron.

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