Dam Busters: The Race to Smash the Dams, 1943 [Hardcover]

I was surprised (as was James Holland) to find how few books have been written on Operation Chastise. The best known is Paul Brickhill's "The Dam Busters", on which the celebrated film was based. But Brickhill's book was written in the 1950s, when much was still secret (he didn't even know what the bomb looked like). Everything was published after 30 years, and James Holland has made excellent use of it. He describes well the feverish preparation (less than 10 weeks from the idea to the attack), and how the crews went into action when only one live bomb had been tested and most of them had not even dropped a dummy bomb - and it all had to be done 60 feet above the water surface in pitch darkness. In the case of the Eder Dam, it involved an astounding bit of flying - the pilot of a light plane with Mr. Holland as a passenger found the turn on to the target difficult at 150 feet in broad daylight and wondered how on earth fully-laden Lancasters managed it at 60 feet at night. Mr. Holland also corrects the impression that the raid squandered the lives of aircrews for little return. To repair the Möhne in time for the September rains, Albert Speer had to take workers from the building of the Atlantic Wall. The lost factories, mines and communications also hit Germany hard at the point where it was about to launch Operation Citadel at Kursk, the German defeat at which was the start of the long retreat that ended at Berlin.

One of the great ironies (of which I wasn't aware) was the fact that the whole thing owed a lot to the British Admiralty, which was enthusiastic about a smaller version for RAF Coastal Command as an anti-shipping weapon (with "Tirpitz" particularly in mind). The smaller bomb was never used operationally.

Best of all, Mr. Holland fleshes out the characters. Guy Gibson was no square-jawed Bomber Command "Top Gun" as played by Richard Todd in the film, but a fairly ordinary pilot, who had to work hard at it. Only turned 24, the product of a difficult childhood and with an awkward marriage, with enormous responsibilities on his shoulders, Gibson was fearful, yet also courageous (he really earned his VC over the dams). Barnes Wallis, the inventor of the bomb, was totally immersed in a weapon that could shorten the war, and didn't see the human consequences of his idea until 8 of the 19 crews didn't come back - he was devastated and never quite forgave himself. Mr. Holland also interviewed German survivors of what is still referred to as the "Möhnekatastrophe", and fills in personal details of the crews who flew the mission, four of whom are still with us. And yes, the dog does get a mention or two!

All in all, another splendid effort by Mr. Holland.

This is a very detailed and well researched book that spreads much new light on many of the aspects of the mission. Much of the genius of Barnes Wallis is disapated by poor vision from very senior officers. Only the driving energy of Wing Cdr Gibson and a few senior RAF officers made it a successful operation. In many ways the timescales were determined by the water level in the lakes yet the dragging of heels albut jeopardised the mission.

The fact that the Sorpe Dam should have had a priority above the Eder Dam shows that the assessment of economic warfare was at a very early stage. Most people know that the damage done by the raid was significant but was quickly repaired. However the diversion of resources to effect the repairs wrecked many of the programmes that the Germans had in place to continue the war.

James Holland's greatest attribute is his ability to describe the raw courage that young men, some barely more than children, displayed. Also the grief expressed by Wallis at the loss of so many young lives is poignantly illustrated. This is a well balanced description of one of the most innovative operations in the history of warfare.

...then this may well be the book for you. As the previous reviewer has stated, there's nothing new covered in this book and to be fair to Mr. Holland, he doesn't claim that there is.
He does attempt to tell the full story in a slightly different way, offering a readable narrative while also setting the Raid in perspective with the bombing campaign and the wider war.In trying to cover the story of 'Highball'/618 Squadron as well I felt that the author may have bitten off more than he could chew; I almost lost track once or twice. But as the focus narrows to 'Chastise' itself, the reader is treated to a very exciting description of the attack on the Dams.
The author does put the case very well that many of the crews were far from being hand-picked or highly-experienced, and training for the Raid was not as comprehensive as previously made out ; which makes their achievement all the more remarkable. To Mr Holland's great credit, he doesn't take pot-shots at previous authors in the field and blends much of the most recent research into this book.
A good, readable account for the more general reader - maybe not one for the 'Dambuster anorak'.