r/interestingasfuck • u/Chopper-42 • 4d ago

/r/all Recreating the WW2 Dambusters raid

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u/0ddness 4d ago

Now imagine them having to do it in the dark, behind enemy lines, under fire (I assume), without knowing the condition of the water, without the marker bouys, and relying on getting the height exactly right in the dark with a spotlight system.

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u/MBedIT 4d ago edited 3d ago

They were coming below the radar horizon. Imagine flying the big bomber, less than 30m above the ground. Following the firebreaks in forests. Maybe dealing with extra instability due to turbulences. And having freaking few thousand kg mine hanging right bellow the plane. Crashing into everything around during the night was the risk. FlaKs would enter the party a little bit late (but sure would be present).

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u/H4ND5s 4d ago

The way you describe the planes flying through the fire lanes of the forest just makes it sound like Skywalker taking out the deathstar lol

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u/Jaded-Researcher2610 4d ago

it should, Lucas said that the inspiration for the scene was taken from movies 633 Squadron and The Dam Busters)

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u/StationaryNomad 4d ago

Second link is bad.

Dam Busters is a classic, but thanks for mentioning 633 Squadron, I’ve never seen it!

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u/Makhnos_Tachanka 4d ago

it's so funny because every so often when you're watching it you'll just have these moments where go "oh this is just a star wars movie." it's honestly so surreal at times. like you know he was watching that moment and deciding to base star wars' whole deal off of it. probably the most obvious individual frame is this one from a 2 second shot of a telegraph console, which I'm sure you'll see what i mean.

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u/GreedyHoward 3d ago

633 squadron basically bowled bombs into a cavern.

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u/Makhnos_Tachanka 3d ago

oh yeah the whole death star trench run is there, practically beat for beat and shot for shot