How many people died in Operation Chastise?

53 men of the Lancaster bomber crews died during Operation Chastise. The flooding from the breached dams killed at least 1,300 civilians.

What was the purpose of Operation Chastise?

The purpose of Operation Chastise was to destroy Ruhr dams so that flooding would in turn destroy German armaments factories. Lowering German civilian morale and increasing British morale and Britain's standing with its allies were other aims.

How successful was the Dambusters raid?

The Dambusters raid was only partially successful in that two out of three dams were breached and there was disruption to the German war effort. Germany repaired the damage in a few months.

Operation Chastise

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Definition

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 in the valleys below, disrupting industrial targets and killing at least 1,300 civilians.

More about: Operation Chastise

Timeline

Mar 17 CE
Formation of No. 617 Squadron based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire. It carried out Operation Chastise two months later.
16 May 1943 CE
Lancaster bombers carry out Operation Chastise, the 'Dambusters' raid on Ruhr dams in Germany.
17 May 1943 CE
Floods from the dams breached in Operation Chastise (Eder and Möhne) kill at least 1,300 civilians.