History Behind Corgi AA32608: Lancaster MkIII, Guy Gibson & 617 Squadron (1943)

Introduction

In May 1943, Wing Commander Guy Gibson led the newly formed 617 Squadron, later immortalised as the “Dambusters”. Their mission, Operation Chastise, became one of the most famous low-level bombing raids of the Second World War. Flying modified Avro Lancaster MkIIIs, the squadron was tasked with attacking the heavily defended Möhne and Eder dams in Germany’s Ruhr Valley, the heart of German industry.

Operation Chastise and the Upkeep mine

Each Lancaster carried the revolutionary “Upkeep” mine, a cylindrical bomb designed by Dr Barnes Wallis. Rather than being dropped like a conventional bomb, Upkeep was spun backwards and released at very low altitude so it could skip across the water, strike the dam wall and then sink before detonating. To achieve this, crews trained intensively to fly at around 60 feet above the reservoir surface, at a precise speed and distance from the target.

Gibson’s aircraft, coded AJ-G, led the first wave. Under intense anti-aircraft fire, the Lancasters made repeated passes over the dams, using spotlights under the fuselage to judge height in the darkness. After several attacks, the Möhne dam finally gave way, followed later by the Eder, unleashing massive floods that damaged power stations, factories and transport links across the Ruhr.

Crew bravery and lasting legacy

The raid came at a high cost: several aircraft were lost and many crew members were killed or captured. Gibson himself flew at the front of the formation to draw enemy fire away from the other aircraft and was later awarded the Victoria Cross for his leadership and courage.

Despite the losses, Operation Chastise became a symbol of precision flying, ingenuity and determination. The Lancaster MkIII flown by Gibson and the men of 617 Squadron has since become an icon of RAF Bomber Command, and their story continues to fascinate aviation enthusiasts and collectors.

For collectors, Corgi’s AA32608 Lancaster MkIII “Guy Gibson & 617 Squadron” captures this historic aircraft in model form, bringing the drama of the 1943 Dambusters raid to the display shelf.