Commissioning Brief - BBC

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The Dambuster’s – 70 Years On
Friday 17 May 2013 saw Radio 2 commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters raid with a
day of special shows.
Thursday 16 and Friday 17 May 2013 marked the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid - an
operation which changed the course of the Second World War. Nineteen Lancaster Bombers, each
carrying the 'Bouncing Bomb', took off from Lincolnshire to destroy the dams of the Ruhr Valley at
the heart of Germany's war-machine.
The crews came from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Eight aircraft didn't return. In
total, 133 airmen took part in the raid, 53 of them died. In Germany almost 2000 lives were lost as a
result of the dams being breached.
Chris Evans stated the day off, broadcasting live from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, exploring Wing
Commander Guy Gibson's base and meeting the people who could explain the science and
history behind Operation Chastise, more commonly known as the Dambuster raids. Later in the day,
on Jeremy Vine's show, Chris recalled his flight from RAF Scampton to Biggin Hill on board a
Lancaster Bomber earlier in the day.
From midday the Jeremy Vine show was live at ex-RAF airport Biggin Hill in Kent, discussing the
legacy of the Dambusters. He discussed the mission, the impact it had, and looked at the future of
the RAF and what it takes to become a pilot and we heard from the last surviving veterans from the
original mission.
From 8pm, Dermot O'Leary and Jeremy Vine presented a special Friday Night is Music Night
commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid.
The iconic story was re-told with music from the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Central Band of the
RAF, live at Biggin Hill Airport. The evening also featured drama and special messages from
veterans and Barnes Wallis' daughter.
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