Today, May 16, marks the 70th anniversary of Operation Chastise - the famous "Dambusters"

raid on the great dams of industrial wartime Germany.  I am re-posting this poem - dedicated

to Sqdn. Ldr. G.L. "Johnny" Johnson DFC, sergeant-bomb-aimer on AJ-T for Tommy - who

took his crew around the Sorpe dam ten times before being ready to drop their bomb on its

intended target.  He joins another surviving veteran of the raid this day to remember.

I will never forget his talk about that night and how he brought it alive for those who heard him.

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Whippet-lean and dry of tone,

With manner self-effacing,

He conjured up the distant drone

Of bombers moonlight chasing.

 

He made it easy to believe

How different were those days when

Young men like him dared to achieve

Great deeds in daring ways then.

 

Though many springs have left behind

That distant May-moon night,

Those who listened would soon find

Themselves aboard that flight.

 

In the moon-bright ray a life away

From the mocking and modern world,

He and we lay in the bomb-aimer's bay

As the target beneath us unfurled.

 

Time and around, and around yet again,

The hazards and risks multiplying,

Till the right time arrived and the Lancaster dived

At the target for which it was trying.

 

A hit but no breach, then away out of reach,

The hand that was held had been played;

No more could be done but much had been won,

While sacrifice was sought - and was made.

 

When God wants for angels (and He seeks the best)

To safeguard the Kingdom of Heaven,

There are many deserving but may I suggest

The squadron they call "Six One Seven".

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