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Operation Chastise
Operation Chastise, the 'Dambusters' raid, was an attack by a squadron of RAF Lancaster bombers on the dams of the Ruhr basin in Germany in May 1943. Led by Squadron Leader Guy Gibson, the bombers breached two dams causing enormous flooding...
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Bouncing Bomb Trials
A photograph showing the trials on the Kent coast using the bouncing bomb in the spring of 1943. The bomb was designed for use in Operation Chastise of the night of 16 May 1943. The operation, also known as the 'Dam Busters' Raid, was carried...
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Lancaster with Bouncing Bomb
A photograph of an Avro Lancaster bomber loaded with a 'bouncing bomb' used on the 'Dam Buster' raid. Also known as Operation Chastise, the raid of May 1943 aimed to destroy several Ruhr Valley dams. (National Archives, London)
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Cologne Bomb Damage, 1942
An aerial photograph showing the bomb damage following the thousand-bomber raid on Cologne in 1942. (Australian War Memorial)
Definition
Lancaster Bomber
The Avro 683 Lancaster bomber was a four-engine heavy bomber flown by the Royal Air Force and allies during the Second World War (1939-45). Lancasters were particularly used in nighttime bombing raids and could carry the heaviest bombs ever...
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Allied Bombing of Germany
The Allied strategic bombing of Germany during World War II (1939-45) involved British and U.S. bomber planes attacking industrial cities, factories, railways, airfields, and dams. Over 600,000 civilians died as a consequence. The campaign...
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Battle of the Ruhr
The Battle of the Ruhr or the Ruhr Air Offensive (March-July 1943) was a sustained bombing campaign by the British and the United States air forces against the industrial heartland of Germany during the Second World War (1939-45). The offensive...
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The Bombing of Berlin
The bombing of Berlin, aka the Berlin Air Offensive or Battle of Berlin (Air), was a sustained bombing campaign on the German capital by the British Royal Air Force and United States Air Force from November 1943 until March 1944. The objective...
Definition
Perfection of Wisdom
Perfection of Wisdom is the foundational text of the Mahayana Buddhist school, a kind of anthology of works, thematically linked, composed between c. 50 BCE - c. 600 CE in India by Mahayana Buddhist scribes. It is comprised of 38 sutras (defined...
Definition
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a medium two-engined bomber plane used by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) during the Second World War (1939-45). Heinkel He 111s contributed significantly to such campaigns as the Battle of France, the Battle of Britain...