Dam Busters Production stills

[Smithy]

I was in two minds whether to post this here or over in the Movie section but I thought this link might be better appreciated over here.

Here is a link to some simply wonderful production stills from the set of the 1955 film. Well worth having a gander at:

http://www.cbfsim.org/cbfsim/cbfsBB/...hp?f=8&t=18492

[Stearmen]

Great photos! I remember watching the movie on TV in the early 70s, when I was a teen. I went out and bought a model of a Lancaster Dam Buster, I can't remember who made it back then! Whish the movie would play on the oldies channel.

[dr greg]

Found this a couple of weeks ago for 40c

[Shangas]

Hey Dr. Greg,

I've got The Dam Busters as well, along with The Great Escape. I picked them both up at flea-markets. It was the only way I could get them! They've been out of print for years, which is sad, because they're awesome books.

[Mr. Godfrey]

nice collection of photo's thanks.

I went to see a screening of the "The Dambusters" at a local cinema two years ago, brilliant. I thought maybe the sound would be poor compared to modern stuff but the part where the Lanc climb after a low level cross on the lake was lound and moving. Also I found the end rather moving as they counted off the losses. Strange really, I have it on DVD and have watched this film so many times on TV and DVD yet I found the film more poignant on the big screen.

But nice to see the photo's.

[Dixon Cannon]

What a beautiful sight!



-dixon cannon

[dhermann1]

What I've always found interesting about the Dam Busters episode is that it's so typical of the cleverness that the British used throughout the war. The mission itself was not as effective as it could have been, mainly due to postponement. The real net damage was not great. But add it to the brilliant use of radar, the phoney tanks that Monty used before El Alamein, "the man who never was", etc., it helps explain why a nation that was less than half the size of its German adversary could hold its own against the Nazi war machine.

[Smithy]

it helps explain why a nation that was less than half the size of its German adversary could hold its own against the Nazi war machine.

Remember though she also had the sons of NZ, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Rhodesia, India to stand with her as well dhermann. But you are right about Britain fighting a clever war in many ways, and the DBs are one of the best examples.

Greg, Brickhill's book might be an oldie but it's a bloody goodie!

Sadly, there is only one pilot from the DB raid left now, Les Munro from NZ, and I think Dixon Cannon's photo is from the commemoration event event held at Derwent Reservoir that Les travelled all the way from NZ to attend. He's still interviewed fairly often back home in the press and I know that Peter Jackson and Stephen Fry have been in contact with him a lot concerning their upcoming remake of the film.

[rumblefish]

Great photos.
Great thread, Tim.
Thanks.

[dr greg]

What I've always found interesting about the Dam Busters episode is that it's so typical of the cleverness that the British used throughout the war. .

That's always interested me as well, I suppose the 'eccentricity' that the British pride themselves on meant that was a greater pool of non-conformist thinkers tolerated by the British 'establishment' than could ever exist in the tightly hierarchical society that had evolved under the Nazis, although the blame should possibly not be all apportioned there: the blind acceptance of authority as a social norm goes right back to the Prussian state etc etc...