617 Squadron cover art

617 Squadron

The Dambusters at War

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617 Squadron

By: Tom Bennett
Narrated by: Dennis Kleinman
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About this listen

In May 1943, Guy Gibson led 617 Squadron on an audacious assault on the dams of the Ruhr valley using Barnes Wallis' ingenious 'bouncing bombs.'

What happened to RAF 617 Squadron after the completion of Operation Chastise?

The raid had been a success, but the bombing offensive against Nazi-occupied territories did not let up and 617 Squadron continued to be at the heart of these operations.

Squadron Leader Tom Bennett, who flew as one of the lead navigators of 617's Mosquito marker force, recounts many of the precision attacks made by 617's Lancasters on vital targets in occupied Europe.

A number of personalities who served with the Squadron leap to life, like Tom McLean, who managed to destroy three night-fighters while wounded from his position as rear gunner, as well as the unpredictable Australian Colin Keith 'Aspro' Astbury who after being retired from active duty snuck out of his dull job with the Air Ministry to continue flying with his crew.

617 Squadron: The Dambusters at War provides unique insight into the reminiscences of the men who flew in this crack Royal Air Force squadron during the last three years of World War Two.

©1986 The Estate of Tom Bennett (P)2022 Tantor Air Forces Armed Forces Military War US Air Force

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All stars
Most relevant  
An enjoyable listen, some excellent individual stories but can't quite put my finger on why I can't give 5 stars... maybe the narrative and the narrator insisting on calling the Squadron, six seventeen not six one seven all the way through... annoying as hell to be quite honest.

it's SIX-ONE-SEVEN not SIX-SEVENTEEN...!

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Love anything that is to do with 617 Sqdn from the dams raid to the Eagles nest raid and beyond

Dambusters

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Very interesting and sometimes hilarious accounts of an amazing squadron. The book itself leaves the reader wishing for a part two as there must be equally amazing stories that remain untold.

The narration is a monotone style that takes some getting used to but the ‘six seventeen’ is surprisingly annoying and really grates with the listener all the way through.

Fascinating accounts of extraordinary flying and skill

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first off let me say this is very interesting, covers the squadron operations during the war, not only on the famous dambusting raid. I would have enjoyed it much more if the narrator had said 6 1 7 instead of 6 17 which was very very annoying and very frequent. otherwise interesting, informative and enjoyable.

the annoying use of six seventeen.

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I e had a fascination with “617” since a very early are. read, watched and listened to countless accounts of their escapades. After 2 hours of listening to this I’m going to delete it. It’s as if it’s read by AI. No heart or soul in the narration. Such stories need to be told with conviction and intent.

What a bitter disappointment

A fascinating Story Ruined

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