Operation Chastise was a high-risk bombing raid carried out by the Royal Air Force on the night of 16/17 May 1943 against the Möhne, Edersee, and Sorpe dams in the Ruhr Valley in Germany. The raid was led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, 617 Squadron, and involved 19 specially modified Lancaster bombers. The aircraft were equipped with a new weapon called the “bouncing bomb”, which was designed to skip across the water and hit the dam wall below the waterline.

The raid was ultimately successful, causing widespread flooding and damage to German industrial plants and infrastructure. However, 8 aircraft were lost with 53 aircrew killed and 3 aircrew taken prisoner. While the raid was considered a major success for the RAF, the designer of the “bouncing bomb”, Barnes Wallis, was appalled at the loss of aircrew.

The HK Models Lancaster kit – now in 1:48 scale – remembers the daring raid with markings for Guy Gibson’s aircraft.

Markings for Lancaster B Mk III Special ED932/AJ-G of 617 Squadron RAF Scampton. L: 443mm, W: 648mm, Total parts: 369.