It took the German 4 months to rebuild the dams. Try to get Doco Bombing Hitler's Dams. 19 crews went an only 11 returned and I think 35 men died. Barnes Wallis was a genius without any of the equipment and technology we have now.
So bloody what if the dog is called Nigger? I'm not racist at all... hell I work for LMHR, but what you forget people is that this was a sign of the times. Stop being so damn politically correct all the time...
What we must remember is that the men in the 617 Squadron are our own homeland heroes, for if not for them the UK would be a very different place... regardless of colour, culture, or belief. We fought as a country, united as one.
So in respect of the remake, keep it true to the facts.
I seem to remember there is a small hiccup in the script - at the beginning Wallis accepts that he invented the bouncing bomb, later he says that the idea came from Nelson's tactic of firing into the sea so that the cannon balls would bounce into the enemy's ships.
If they do a re-make and change the name of Guys dog, then really, why not just change the aircraft to bright pink, blue , orange boeng 737s ...have Guy Gibson drive a Porsche, have an I-Phone..... . They could omit the spotlights under the Planes as they could use G.P.S..............might as well get Disney to do the Re-make!!...could then include some 'Cute' characters in the film as it would make great merchandising money!
Absolutely love this film, Fantastic! Very well made, well acted...everything. Some very atmospheric scenes in it as well. Shame they can't make films like this any more...too busy with computerised effects and ego boosting the pathetic celebs!!
If the remake edits out the word Nigger, then they will be re-writing historical fact, which is totally unnaceptable. Having said that, the yanks were re-writing the war before it had even ended.
@stracepipe "Nigger" is an unacceptable term for today's audiences- except for when a black person says it to another black person. At the same time, if a lot of blacks today can call each other "dog," then I think the black lab in this movie has earned the right to be called "nigger."
But if Guy Gibson instead had a white Samoyed, 100 to 1 odds say he doesn't call him "whitey," 10,000 to 1 against "honkey." And if "jive turkey" was the only password they could come up with? Scrub the mission.
@orcstr8d The film is a historical document and reflects that attitudes, customs and vocabulary of its day. You can't just rewrite history. It would set a precedent that would enable people to demand the editing out anything that they deemed 'offensive'. I know people who would happily rewrite the 2nd world war with us as the aggressors. The BBC for example are very keen to criticise the Allied bombing campaign. Re your last point. is Tintin racist for calling his dog Snowy?
@stracepipe I rewrite stuff all the time. I have a rare autographed copy of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." I whited out all refs to "nigger" years ago and am now instructed to overwrite "slave." Similarly, "slave owner" has been replaced with "union boss."
Don't know about BBC. Did they drop inappropriately colored bombs?
And Snowy implies moderate to heavy amounts of cocaine use. I could see a user or recovering addict using that pet name, tho thankfully, that stuff is beneath me.
When Guy Gibson called his dog Nigger, & when the film was made, the word had no racial connotation whatsoever, in the UK. It was simply used to describe a colour. Guy Gibson loved his dog, and Nigger was used as the pass word for the successful breaching of one of the dams: all use of the word in this story is positive!
@vanmorg You have every right to be very proud of your great grandfather. The attack on the Dams really had an effect on German industry at the turning point of the war. It is cited specifically by historian Adam Tooze in his brilliant study of the German war economy (chapter 18).
@vanmorg Your great grandad was born in Leamington Spa on 21 July 1921. Do you happen to have a photograph of him? I am a member of the Leamington History group and would like to write a piece about him and his service with 633 Squadron. Thanks a lot.
So glad to find this. When I was in the band in high school, our director had us play this for a concert. I loved it then, and now knowing what the amazing story is about, I love it even more.
Yeah Peter, this is a racist movie, where a man who named his dog nigger put his life on the line daily so that those races that were being exterminated by the nazis could live to be offended by simple words like nigger, a word of advice peter stop think then comment, respect to richard todd who served in WWII and was part of the DDay landings if memory serves me right
Hey PeterFirthFan just to add if it wasnt for these boys defending the country then the people that claim 'racist' would be pretty stuffed.. Do you think if things had gone differently these poor victims of racism would be able to claim their job seekers allowance so easily!!??
Peter Jackson is set to direct the remake, and Stephen Fry purportedly has written a script. This is one of the great marches. Coates was a brilliant composer....amazing.
@PeterFirthFan what? are you a window licker? if you're refering to the dogs name it was named after a colour in the 30s40s called nigger black and was not racial. your PC gone mad fella - the reason this country is going tits up is because of idiots like you
Amazingly brave men and a great tribute to them .This version of the theme music is easilly the finest of all versions been hunting for it but it dont seem to be avaliable other than on the film . Stirring stuff !
i love the line in the film where Barnes-Wallace asks for a Wellington aircraft to test the bouncing bomb. The guy behind a deskcomtempously asks " what on earth could he say to the Ministry to make them give the aircraft" to which Barnes_Wallace replies " well you might say that I designed it"
Agreed and Leighton Lucas did a great job in creating this abridged works so that it dovetailed into the film better. How it shifts into Leighton's theme we also know, at 1.10 is sheer joy!
I absolutely agree with you! However, I was very pleasantly surprised to discover what I thought were great versions of this by brass/silver bands on YouTube. And that's saying something, for someone who has never been a big fan of those type of bands!
What actually happened, was that the bomb itself was always cylindrical, but surrounded by a case of bent wood slats that were riveted in place, forming what could more accurately be called an oblate spheroid, than a sphere. During one test drop, the casing shattered into fragments and the cylinder went merrily bouncing on its way across the water, showing there was no need for the casing. It was subsequently dropped and the Upkeep Mine was cylindrical from that moment on.
The U.S. release of the film was through Warner Brothers and U.S. copies opened with the WB shield and "Warner Bros. Pictures Presents" instead if the Associated British credit. In the American prints, the mascot dog's name was overdubbed as "Digger" instead of "Nigger." The last time the American print was issued was when it aired on a Friday night CBS Late Night movie presentation during the late 1970s. Only the original uncensored British print is in issue now.
The film is not misleading. according to Wing Commander G.Gibson's own book "Enemy Coast Ahead" written after the dams raid in 1944 they went over the dam wall. but the real shape is like a barrel not a ball as shown in the film since it was still classified at the time.
Did you know the wing commanders black lab was called Nigger! I swear that's what I heard when watching the movie. WTF!!. He ended up getting hit by a hit and run.
It actually was not a hit and run-the driver got out and did his best to help the dog. And yes it was called Nigger, the squadron's mascot. Gibson did not tell the men as the death of the squadron mascot was seen as a bads omen.
Yes, that was the dog's name, but the word carried consideradely less offensive connotations in England at the time, being far more equated to "native inhabitant" than anything racially derogatory. Means the same now everywhere of course, which is the universally offensive racist insult, so going to be interesting to see how JAckson handles it.
the dog was named after his colour - the term used in the 30s, 40s, 50s was nigger black and nothing to do with native inhabitant - my old gran bless her was always on about nigger black.
No doubt Jackson will handle it by having the bombers fly out from DC or Miami and it'll be Wing Commander Buck Goldenboy
I hope you are wrong about Buck Goldenboy.........I think Jackson has integrity and he is a KIwi afterall and there were many Kiwis in bomber command. Her may be pressured from US producers/financiers to add a little more US content so the film does well in the US when released. I think there was one US pilot in 617 squadron.......he probably be made out to be the hero...like Stve McQueen in the Great Escape
I saw the unedited film for the first time the other night and absolutely loved it. I can see why the end scene of Barnes Wallace and Gibson is highly regarded. I had a tear in my eye at the end.
A beautiful film and really shows how brilliant Britain was in those times. 10/10
actually the distance from the damn wall they needed to drop the bombs and the speed they were doing would have meant trying to climb whilst losing speed in front of the flak towers , easier to fly through them and pull away after clearing the dams.
The Tallboy bomb weighed just under 10 tons but may not have been available in 1943. I don't see why a large depth-charge could not have been dropped behind the dam so that it sank onto the sloping face.
I suspect that the film is misleading and, in reality, the planes peeled off before flying between the flak-towers on the dam. I fear that none would have survived that gauntlet.
According to Wikipaedia, the Tallboy bomb weighed just under ten tons but I admit to not knowing when they came into service. A depth-charge Earthquake bomb could have been dropped behind the dam and would most certainly have sunk onto the sloping face of the dam.
I suspect that the film is misleading and that the planes peeled off before arriving at the dams flak towers rather than flying between them.
The dog's name was 'nigger' in the book and reality, and 'blackie' in the film. Like all 50's Brit schoolkids I loved the film but now I can't work out the need for a bouncing bomb. If they needed low-level pinpoint accuracy to drop the bloody things, then why not drop 10 ton block-busters just in front of the dam or crash gliders packed with mines into them. The planes would have run the ack-ack gauntlets just the same.
The dams were simply too massive to be damaged by conventional bombs, even of 10 tons (which Lancasters were incapable of carrying anyway in 1943). And the Upkeep weapon had to explode (1) in direct contact with the dam wall so that the shock wave thus generated would be big enough to burst the concrete, and (2) in the water so that the wave would be contained sufficiently to be effective on the concrete. (Continued)
The weapons at about 6 tons were too heavy to be able to plough through under the water to the dam wall, so they had to skip over the surface instead. When they reached the wall, the backspin put on them prior to dropping ensured they remained in contact with it for the explosion.
10 ton Blockbusters could not be dropped at that low an altitidue, as they made the made far less aerodynamic and unstable. Barnes Wallis originally thought of using them from a greater hbeight, but realised that they would need to be three times that big to take account for lack of accuracy in dropping, which was impossible to carry with the technology of the time.
Still get the goosebumps when I hear the opening chords and see those swirling clouds in the sky ....
Forget the dog's name for the moment: I'm wondering what MUSIC Peter J will be using for the remake. I just can't think of any other movie where the subject matter and the theme tune are so indissolubly linked. You could conceive of even Star Wars with another soundtrack, but The Dambusters? Never in this world.
aviation. Come on! I don't think that this action made much difference one way or the other. The battles of Moscow (land), Midway (sea) and Britain (air) were all much more important battles determining the outcome of WW2.
This was not so much a strategic victory so much as a moral one. we were retreating on all fronts, the threat of invasion was still a posibility. The dam buster raid raised the moral of the ordinary person and made them believe that Britain was not out of the fight.
Stirring stuff, one of my favourite films. Nigger didn't really get run over, if you can watch the title credits at the end of the film, he can be plainly seen running around on the grass.
There's a Dambusters group on facebook and a guy who is currently working on the film has left a few bits and pieces of info on whats happening re: the remake :)
The dogs name is spelt NIGGER ,thats nigger.Last year I was consort to the Gainsborough Town mayor and after a reception at RAF Scampton I asked A RAF Policeman where we could find niggers grave,we followed his car and infront of the hangers was a very well kept grave with his named proudly on view ,with fresh flowers,fenced of with black railing.A real credit to the ground staff at RAF Scampton.Best wishes Rob.
Great Film, Great Music, Now If only I could find a Black labradore and call him nigar, and drive around in a 1930's MG roadster. But I wonder if I would be allowed in this PC world. Their finest hour.
Try to remember very few Germans around today were actually involved in the war. It's a bit like me holding English people responsible for the Battle of Falkirk.
this should be the national anthem it is the best and most stirring march ever written. it should be played at any event where there are germans to remind them we wont let the millions go forgotten.
It bores the fuck out of the mrs but this film is the bollocks
southlondon63 1 week ago
It took the German 4 months to rebuild the dams. Try to get Doco Bombing Hitler's Dams. 19 crews went an only 11 returned and I think 35 men died. Barnes Wallis was a genius without any of the equipment and technology we have now.
angelofoz46 1 week ago
So bloody what if the dog is called Nigger? I'm not racist at all... hell I work for LMHR, but what you forget people is that this was a sign of the times. Stop being so damn politically correct all the time...
What we must remember is that the men in the 617 Squadron are our own homeland heroes, for if not for them the UK would be a very different place... regardless of colour, culture, or belief. We fought as a country, united as one.
So in respect of the remake, keep it true to the facts.
panasonicyouth1985 1 week ago
I seem to remember there is a small hiccup in the script - at the beginning Wallis accepts that he invented the bouncing bomb, later he says that the idea came from Nelson's tactic of firing into the sea so that the cannon balls would bounce into the enemy's ships.
kevinastraw 7 months ago
Best Pilots ever!! RAF rules.. God Bless. Best regards, Semper Fi
cwmak70 8 months ago
If they do a re-make and change the name of Guys dog, then really, why not just change the aircraft to bright pink, blue , orange boeng 737s ...have Guy Gibson drive a Porsche, have an I-Phone..... . They could omit the spotlights under the Planes as they could use G.P.S..............might as well get Disney to do the Re-make!!...could then include some 'Cute' characters in the film as it would make great merchandising money!
......surley nobody will notice?,,,,,,,
wyb80 10 months ago 4
Absolutely love this film, Fantastic! Very well made, well acted...everything. Some very atmospheric scenes in it as well. Shame they can't make films like this any more...too busy with computerised effects and ego boosting the pathetic celebs!!
....sorry, rant over :)
wyb80 10 months ago
the acts of brave men are forgotten and everyone goes on about Guy Gibson calling his dog nigger, get a life and fuck off
southlondon63 11 months ago
If the remake edits out the word Nigger, then they will be re-writing historical fact, which is totally unnaceptable. Having said that, the yanks were re-writing the war before it had even ended.
stracepipe 1 year ago
@stracepipe "Nigger" is an unacceptable term for today's audiences- except for when a black person says it to another black person. At the same time, if a lot of blacks today can call each other "dog," then I think the black lab in this movie has earned the right to be called "nigger."
But if Guy Gibson instead had a white Samoyed, 100 to 1 odds say he doesn't call him "whitey," 10,000 to 1 against "honkey." And if "jive turkey" was the only password they could come up with? Scrub the mission.
orcstr8d 1 year ago
@orcstr8d The film is a historical document and reflects that attitudes, customs and vocabulary of its day. You can't just rewrite history. It would set a precedent that would enable people to demand the editing out anything that they deemed 'offensive'. I know people who would happily rewrite the 2nd world war with us as the aggressors. The BBC for example are very keen to criticise the Allied bombing campaign. Re your last point. is Tintin racist for calling his dog Snowy?
stracepipe 1 year ago
@stracepipe I rewrite stuff all the time. I have a rare autographed copy of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." I whited out all refs to "nigger" years ago and am now instructed to overwrite "slave." Similarly, "slave owner" has been replaced with "union boss."
Don't know about BBC. Did they drop inappropriately colored bombs?
And Snowy implies moderate to heavy amounts of cocaine use. I could see a user or recovering addict using that pet name, tho thankfully, that stuff is beneath me.
orcstr8d 1 year ago
@stracepipe Good point but didn't you read or see 1984?
theakamark 1 month ago
When Guy Gibson called his dog Nigger, & when the film was made, the word had no racial connotation whatsoever, in the UK. It was simply used to describe a colour. Guy Gibson loved his dog, and Nigger was used as the pass word for the successful breaching of one of the dams: all use of the word in this story is positive!
stracepipe 1 year ago
Apologies! AJ-Z "Zebra" was shot down over Emmerich, Holland!
vanmorg 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Just watched this film. It was really good.
robno1 1 year ago
my mrs thinks im mad but this makes the hairs on my back stand up, let us remember those very brave men.
southlondon63 1 year ago
TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF HENRY ERIC MAUDSLAY DFC, SQUADRON LEADER RAFVR KILLED IN THE ATTACK ON THE MOHNE DAM 16TH - 17TH MAY 1943 AGED 21 YEARS.
My great grandad. Thanks for giving us our freedom.
vanmorg 1 year ago 2
@vanmorg You have every right to be very proud of your great grandfather. The attack on the Dams really had an effect on German industry at the turning point of the war. It is cited specifically by historian Adam Tooze in his brilliant study of the German war economy (chapter 18).
tiresias101 1 year ago
@vanmorg Maudslay was brought down by Flak in Holland on the return journey after dropping his bomb at the Eder dam
dave41184 1 year ago
@vanmorg Your great grandad was born in Leamington Spa on 21 July 1921. Do you happen to have a photograph of him? I am a member of the Leamington History group and would like to write a piece about him and his service with 633 Squadron. Thanks a lot.
oldleamingtonian 8 months ago
So glad to find this. When I was in the band in high school, our director had us play this for a concert. I loved it then, and now knowing what the amazing story is about, I love it even more.
charitybeau 1 year ago
Yeah Peter, this is a racist movie, where a man who named his dog nigger put his life on the line daily so that those races that were being exterminated by the nazis could live to be offended by simple words like nigger, a word of advice peter stop think then comment, respect to richard todd who served in WWII and was part of the DDay landings if memory serves me right
toonfan02 1 year ago 2
funny to think that the bomb was in part designed in my best mates bedroom tho but amazing film based on an amazing story!
the2185cadet 1 year ago
How long until the Yanks make a version claiming it was the Americans that bombed the dams?
21stCenturyPolecat 1 year ago 3
Hey PeterFirthFan just to add if it wasnt for these boys defending the country then the people that claim 'racist' would be pretty stuffed.. Do you think if things had gone differently these poor victims of racism would be able to claim their job seekers allowance so easily!!??
readray 2 years ago 3
"A racist movie"
My heart really bleeds.. For those sensitive that it offends you could try uhh.. let me think... NOT WATCHING IT!!
problem solved
readray 2 years ago 2
Peter Jackson is set to direct the remake, and Stephen Fry purportedly has written a script. This is one of the great marches. Coates was a brilliant composer....amazing.
stevenredd 2 years ago
@stevenredd peter jackson will mess it up big time he should be banned from meddling
davidsmith2304 2 years ago
@davidsmith2304
I agree
Much as I like peter Jackson, I can't help dreading the remake.
I can't see how it can be better than this, except for the historical accuracy.
However many people would have said the same for LOTR, and he made that well.
Myles0Harcourt 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
A racist movie.
PeterFirthFan 2 years ago
@PeterFirthFan what? are you a window licker? if you're refering to the dogs name it was named after a colour in the 30s40s called nigger black and was not racial. your PC gone mad fella - the reason this country is going tits up is because of idiots like you
davidsmith2304 2 years ago 2
what an absolute pillock.
Reggyrail 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Yes, Richard Todd was. I'm glad the short talentless racist apedophile is dead.
PeterFirthFan 2 years ago
and with our country increasingly full of ungrateful ignorant muppets like you I image he is too.
Reggyrail 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
No wonder both his csons committed suicide. No doubt the talentless Todd sexually abused them both.
PeterFirthFan 2 years ago
with that level of argument you really aren't worth the effort.
Reggyrail 2 years ago
@PeterFirthFan Why did good men die in the war just to protect moron's like you?
musicalpyramid 2 years ago 6
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I'm glad Todd died of cancer.
PeterFirthFan 2 years ago
It's a shame we can't strap you to a bouncing bomb and drop you somewhere over Germany...
musicalpyramid 2 years ago 2
@PeterFirthFan
When it was made, Nigger was not a racist term.
And guy Gibson's dog was called Nigger.
Myles0Harcourt 1 year ago 2
rubbish
Gundude1000 2 years ago
R.I.P. Richard Todd.
saberoflondon 2 years ago 5
Amazingly brave men and a great tribute to them .This version of the theme music is easilly the finest of all versions been hunting for it but it dont seem to be avaliable other than on the film . Stirring stuff !
romanyman 2 years ago 4
i love the line in the film where Barnes-Wallace asks for a Wellington aircraft to test the bouncing bomb. The guy behind a deskcomtempously asks " what on earth could he say to the Ministry to make them give the aircraft" to which Barnes_Wallace replies " well you might say that I designed it"
pocketjohnson 2 years ago 5
my 5 month old laughs and laughs whenever we hum this to him, i had no idea what it even was until today!
weeeeeeeeeird!
i wanna see this now though
aristocraticmonkey 2 years ago
Of all the recordings I've heard of Eric Coates' "Dam Busters" March, irrespective of the sound quality, THIS is the best performance.
AJNorth1 2 years ago 18
Agreed and Leighton Lucas did a great job in creating this abridged works so that it dovetailed into the film better. How it shifts into Leighton's theme we also know, at 1.10 is sheer joy!
rbrooks2006 2 years ago
I absolutely agree with you! However, I was very pleasantly surprised to discover what I thought were great versions of this by brass/silver bands on YouTube. And that's saying something, for someone who has never been a big fan of those type of bands!
APRIL141958model 2 years ago
What actually happened, was that the bomb itself was always cylindrical, but surrounded by a case of bent wood slats that were riveted in place, forming what could more accurately be called an oblate spheroid, than a sphere. During one test drop, the casing shattered into fragments and the cylinder went merrily bouncing on its way across the water, showing there was no need for the casing. It was subsequently dropped and the Upkeep Mine was cylindrical from that moment on.
BigJimUK 2 years ago
The U.S. release of the film was through Warner Brothers and U.S. copies opened with the WB shield and "Warner Bros. Pictures Presents" instead if the Associated British credit. In the American prints, the mascot dog's name was overdubbed as "Digger" instead of "Nigger." The last time the American print was issued was when it aired on a Friday night CBS Late Night movie presentation during the late 1970s. Only the original uncensored British print is in issue now.
Noveltooner 2 years ago
Best of British.
Myles0Harcourt 2 years ago 4
The film is not misleading. according to Wing Commander G.Gibson's own book "Enemy Coast Ahead" written after the dams raid in 1944 they went over the dam wall. but the real shape is like a barrel not a ball as shown in the film since it was still classified at the time.
oddball24sco 3 years ago
Did you know the wing commanders black lab was called Nigger! I swear that's what I heard when watching the movie. WTF!!. He ended up getting hit by a hit and run.
2shacks1house 3 years ago 4
It actually was not a hit and run-the driver got out and did his best to help the dog. And yes it was called Nigger, the squadron's mascot. Gibson did not tell the men as the death of the squadron mascot was seen as a bads omen.
Schweinetot 3 years ago 5
Although in the book and the film, to dramatise them, they made it a hit and run.
Myles0Harcourt 2 years ago 3
You are indeed correct.
Schweinetot 2 years ago 4
According to the book "Born Leader", the dog's grravesite is still respectfully maintained by a local resident near the airfield.
AirVirginia 2 years ago
Yes, that was the dog's name, but the word carried consideradely less offensive connotations in England at the time, being far more equated to "native inhabitant" than anything racially derogatory. Means the same now everywhere of course, which is the universally offensive racist insult, so going to be interesting to see how JAckson handles it.
BigJimUK 2 years ago
the dog was named after his colour - the term used in the 30s, 40s, 50s was nigger black and nothing to do with native inhabitant - my old gran bless her was always on about nigger black.
No doubt Jackson will handle it by having the bombers fly out from DC or Miami and it'll be Wing Commander Buck Goldenboy
davidsmith2304 2 years ago 4
I hope you are wrong about Buck Goldenboy.........I think Jackson has integrity and he is a KIwi afterall and there were many Kiwis in bomber command. Her may be pressured from US producers/financiers to add a little more US content so the film does well in the US when released. I think there was one US pilot in 617 squadron.......he probably be made out to be the hero...like Stve McQueen in the Great Escape
Aussiephil99 2 years ago
I saw the unedited film for the first time the other night and absolutely loved it. I can see why the end scene of Barnes Wallace and Gibson is highly regarded. I had a tear in my eye at the end.
A beautiful film and really shows how brilliant Britain was in those times. 10/10
Trayusstudent1 3 years ago 2
actually the distance from the damn wall they needed to drop the bombs and the speed they were doing would have meant trying to climb whilst losing speed in front of the flak towers , easier to fly through them and pull away after clearing the dams.
shathriel 3 years ago
Sorry about that post. My first one disappeared, so I wrote it again and then they put both up.
DavidMJordan 3 years ago
The Tallboy bomb weighed just under 10 tons but may not have been available in 1943. I don't see why a large depth-charge could not have been dropped behind the dam so that it sank onto the sloping face.
I suspect that the film is misleading and, in reality, the planes peeled off before flying between the flak-towers on the dam. I fear that none would have survived that gauntlet.
DavidMJordan 3 years ago
The tallboy weighed 6 tons , the grand slam was just under ten...
dave41184 3 years ago
According to Wikipaedia, the Tallboy bomb weighed just under ten tons but I admit to not knowing when they came into service. A depth-charge Earthquake bomb could have been dropped behind the dam and would most certainly have sunk onto the sloping face of the dam.
I suspect that the film is misleading and that the planes peeled off before arriving at the dams flak towers rather than flying between them.
DavidMJordan 3 years ago
at lincoln matches we normally sing it after lincoln score a goal
lincolnjgjg 3 years ago
The dog's name was 'nigger' in the book and reality, and 'blackie' in the film. Like all 50's Brit schoolkids I loved the film but now I can't work out the need for a bouncing bomb. If they needed low-level pinpoint accuracy to drop the bloody things, then why not drop 10 ton block-busters just in front of the dam or crash gliders packed with mines into them. The planes would have run the ack-ack gauntlets just the same.
DavidMJordan 3 years ago
The dams were simply too massive to be damaged by conventional bombs, even of 10 tons (which Lancasters were incapable of carrying anyway in 1943). And the Upkeep weapon had to explode (1) in direct contact with the dam wall so that the shock wave thus generated would be big enough to burst the concrete, and (2) in the water so that the wave would be contained sufficiently to be effective on the concrete. (Continued)
Krzyszczynski 3 years ago
The weapons at about 6 tons were too heavy to be able to plough through under the water to the dam wall, so they had to skip over the surface instead. When they reached the wall, the backspin put on them prior to dropping ensured they remained in contact with it for the explosion.
Krzyszczynski 3 years ago
10 ton Blockbusters could not be dropped at that low an altitidue, as they made the made far less aerodynamic and unstable. Barnes Wallis originally thought of using them from a greater hbeight, but realised that they would need to be three times that big to take account for lack of accuracy in dropping, which was impossible to carry with the technology of the time.
BigJimUK 2 years ago
Re BigJimUK: Good point. Thanks for the info. I also found out that 10 ton bombs were only used later in the war.
DavidMJordan 2 years ago
Still get the goosebumps when I hear the opening chords and see those swirling clouds in the sky ....
Forget the dog's name for the moment: I'm wondering what MUSIC Peter J will be using for the remake. I just can't think of any other movie where the subject matter and the theme tune are so indissolubly linked. You could conceive of even Star Wars with another soundtrack, but The Dambusters? Never in this world.
Krzyszczynski 3 years ago
Well said!!!
PhotogsHangar 3 years ago
he should use the same sound track i think
lincolnjgjg 3 years ago
Well done, we will always remember their good work!
tcquiltys 3 years ago
My upper lip just got really really stiff....
BlackCountryLad 3 years ago 3
extremely british! tally ho!
morri32 3 years ago 5
lol at fratton park we sung this to jens lehman(german goalkeeper)
classic!
rhampshire 3 years ago 3
I think you need to get a grip. It's the spirit that people are celebrating.
EditDoctor 3 years ago
We all owe our lives to these men.
Only one man lives from the dambusters.
Peter Jackson movie will hopefully be good!
planeboy737 3 years ago
The attack on the dams occurred on the night of the 16th/17th of May,1943.
dorffmann 3 years ago
Hairs on end everytime I hear it, apparently Peter Jackson is doing a remake of this classic, hope he does the brave heros justice!!
richiefirefly 3 years ago 3
If it wasent for these guys we probarbly wouldent be here today. We all owe them our lives what ever their nationality.
speedair40 3 years ago 3
God Save The Brave Men Who Took Part In The Dambusters Raid We Owe Our Lives And Our Country To Them
AviationUnited 3 years ago 2
aviation. Come on! I don't think that this action made much difference one way or the other. The battles of Moscow (land), Midway (sea) and Britain (air) were all much more important battles determining the outcome of WW2.
swanningaround 3 years ago
This was not so much a strategic victory so much as a moral one. we were retreating on all fronts, the threat of invasion was still a posibility. The dam buster raid raised the moral of the ordinary person and made them believe that Britain was not out of the fight.
thegeneralmitch 3 years ago 2
not true, the war had turned in 42 this took place in May 43. We were winning by then
backnumber1662 3 years ago
whoops, got my dates mixed up again
thegeneralmitch 3 years ago
The bombings occurred on the night of May 16 and the early hours of May 17, 1943.
dorffmann 3 years ago
Damn brave men
purepils 3 years ago
i have seen the film it is my fave war movie of all time
motorizerz8 3 years ago
We owe so much to these brave Men.
Those guys put the Great in Great Britain.
God Save The Queen.
ferryden1 3 years ago 31
@ferryden1 they are only acters.
blobby1972 1 year ago
gives me goosebumps evertime i here it,godbless all those who gave their souls for us today.
flynn1967 4 years ago 2
Amazing film of an truly amazing story.
Love it when they play this tune at Ibrox.
McUK1 4 years ago 2
Stirring stuff, one of my favourite films. Nigger didn't really get run over, if you can watch the title credits at the end of the film, he can be plainly seen running around on the grass.
subby631 4 years ago 2
the new version is out soon at the cinimas peter jackson is directing and stephen fry has written it i cant wait.
Fraiserd 4 years ago 3
Really. Any idea when?
katanyaruddick 4 years ago
There's a Dambusters group on facebook and a guy who is currently working on the film has left a few bits and pieces of info on whats happening re: the remake :)
dave41184 4 years ago
this was my dads favorite.xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
doverdocks 4 years ago
The dogs name is spelt NIGGER ,thats nigger.Last year I was consort to the Gainsborough Town mayor and after a reception at RAF Scampton I asked A RAF Policeman where we could find niggers grave,we followed his car and infront of the hangers was a very well kept grave with his named proudly on view ,with fresh flowers,fenced of with black railing.A real credit to the ground staff at RAF Scampton.Best wishes Rob.
ITT56RLC 4 years ago 4
Good show chaps,three cheers for blighty.
spotjak 4 years ago 10
MrDemolitionMan, "yes but they were Germans". lol lol
davinata 4 years ago
Great Film, Great Music, Now If only I could find a Black labradore and call him nigar, and drive around in a 1930's MG roadster. But I wonder if I would be allowed in this PC world. Their finest hour.
Tankysyd 4 years ago 5
diligamus posted - "I've always thought this theme owed something to the 4th movement of Elgar's 2nd symphony ".
It certainly has an 'Elgar sound' to it.
dorffmann 4 years ago
The best of British!!!
aviate150 4 years ago 5
This film and tune makes me oh so proud of dear old Blighty!
God Save The Queen.
Scotland, England, Wales & Northern Ireland together we are beautiful.
Rule Britannia!
ferryden1 4 years ago 8
Hear hear!
fodsaks 3 years ago 2
It's a very memorable tune. Also, a very memorable movie.
Cymro32 4 years ago 2
I watched it in the cinema last night as part of the re-release, brilliant!
Melikethecake 4 years ago
many civilans were killed who lived in the valley
codeseagle 4 years ago 2
Yes but they were Germans.
MrDemolitionMan 4 years ago
that were peaceful civilians and not soldiers !
codeseagle 4 years ago
So the Germans weren't bombing our civilians?
hogarthy 4 years ago
They started it. They invaded Poland. Twice.
hognoxious 4 years ago
Actually, a lot of them were Russian prisoners of war.
BigJimUK 2 years ago
in call of duty 1 you have to eleminate the flak guns on that dam
codeseagle 4 years ago 2
I've always thought this theme owed something to the 4th movement of Elgar's 2nd symphony.
diligamus 4 years ago 2
an absolute classic! ive seen this movi more times than i can count in my 14 years still 1 of the best war movies ever!! lest we forget yes?
marinoshulagreise 4 years ago
Great movie !
7772399 4 years ago
nothing untrue was said,we will not forget,even if the germans seem keen to do so.
Joe90ridesahonda 4 years ago
Try to remember very few Germans around today were actually involved in the war. It's a bit like me holding English people responsible for the Battle of Falkirk.
monchapeau 4 years ago 4
im fairly sure most people dont
polkmn126 3 years ago
this should be the national anthem it is the best and most stirring march ever written. it should be played at any event where there are germans to remind them we wont let the millions go forgotten.
merseygroup 4 years ago
What an utterly crass and ignorant comment. Get some education before you further embarrass yourself.
mewgull1934 4 years ago
Hail these great heroes!!
coyoacan88 4 years ago 2