Flying

The Dam Busters (1955)

Actors: Raymond Huntley (actor), Lloyd Lamble (actor), Patrick McGoohan (actor), Harold Goodwin (actor), Richard Leech (actor), Frederick Leister (actor), Bill Kerr (actor), George Baker (actor), Ernest Clark (actor), Patrick Barr (actor), John Breslin (actor), Arthur Howard (actor), Charles Carson (actor), Michael Redgrave (actor), Laurence Naismith (actor),

Plot: The British are desperate to shorten the length of WW2 and propose a daring raid to smash Germany's industrial heart. At first the objective looks impossible until a British scientist invents an ingenious weapon capable of destroying the planned target.

Keywords: 1940s, air-base, air-crew, air-war, airfield, animal-death, atrocity, based-on-book, based-on-true-story, bomb
Genres: Drama, History, War,
Taglines: The dramatic true-life story of the men who broke the Nazis' back! The story of the "bombs that had to bounce" - and the air-devils who had to drop 'em!

Quotes:

Official, Ministry of Aircraft Production: You say you need a Wellington Bomber for test drops. They're worth their weight in gold. Do you really think the authorities will lend you one? What possible argument could I put forward to get you a Wellington?::Barnes Wallace: Well, if you told them I designed it, do you think that might help?

Farmer: Every time one of these Lancasters fly over, my chickens lay premature eggs.

Gibson: How many guns do you think there are, Trevor?::Trevor-Roper: I'd say there are about ten guns - some in the field, and some in the tower.

Barnes Wallace: Do you know how much water it takes the Germans to make a ton of steel?::Doctor: I haven't the least idea.::Barnes Wallace: One hundred tons. Now just look at this. [gestures to a map on his desk] The whole of this great arsenal of war factories in the Ruhr depends for its water on three enormous dams. The Moehne. The Eder. And, the Sorpe. They control the level of the canals and supply a lot of hydroelectric power as well. When those are full they hold four hundred *million* tons of water. Just think of the chaos if we could break those walls down.

Bomber Harris: Cochrane...!::[gestures for him to wait]::Bomber Harris: Don't go for a minute. What do you think of Wallis' idea for bursting the Ruhr Dams?::Air Vice-Marshal Cochrane: It sounds a bit far-fetched. But, personally, I think it could be done.::Bomber Harris: I hope you're right. Anyway, I've given it my support, and I've had orders to get ready. I want you to take it on.::Air Vice-Marshal Cochrane: Right, sir. I'd like to. It'll mean taking a squadron out of the line for special training.::Bomber Harris: No. We must form a special squadron for this. And man it with experienced crews who have just finished their present thirty trips. Some of those keen youngsters won't mind doing an extra one.::Air Vice-Marshal Cochrane: Do you have anyone in mind to command the squadron?::Bomber Harris: Yes. Gibson.

[Whitworth is helping Gibson select pilots for the new squadron]::Group Capt. Whitworth: I'd go for these two Australians if I were you; Les Knight and Micky Martin. Martin knows pretty well all there is to know about low flying.::Gibson: Yes, I met him when he was collecting his DFC. I know this New Zealander, Les Munro, I'd like to have him. Oh and Joe McCarthy, he's great.::Group Capt. Whitworth: [laughs] Oh, the American. The Glorious Blonde. He used to be a Coney Island beachguard. We mustn't forget the English. [leads Gibson to another personnel book of pilots] Here's Bill Astell. Oh yes, David Maltby. [skips over one pilot] Oh, uh, he's just started another tour.::Gibson: [points to a picture in the book] And Hoppy Hopgood from my old squadron. I'd like to have Dave Shannon and Burpee from there too.::Group Capt. Whitworth: Well, we shan't be popular with the other squadron commanders if we start squeezing chaps like these from them.

Gibson: [addressing the squadron at the briefing before the raid] Well, the training's over. For obvious reasons, you've had to work without knowing your target, or even your weapon. You've to put up with a good deal from other people who think you've been having a soft time. But, tonight, you're going to have a chance to hit the enemy harder, and more destructively, than any small force has ever done before! You're going to attack the great dams of Western Germany!

Flight Sgt. J. Pulford, DFM: [watching morse lamp signals between the two other planes in formation] Martin's having a chat with Hopgood.::Gibson: What's he saying, Hutch?::Flight Lt. R.E.G. Hutchison, DFC: He says we're going to get screechers tomorrow night.::Gibson: Sure we are. Biggest binge of all time.

Bomber Harris: [Harris arrives in the Operations Room to follow the progress of the attack. Officers in the room come to attention and salute] Carry on. [to Cochrane] Well, Cocky, how's it going?::Air Vice-Marshal Cochrane: All right so far, sir. The first wave's about twenty miles from the Dutch coast. Enemy radar has probably picked them up by now

Flight Lt. A.T. Taerum, DFC: [Taerum consults his charts] Skipper, groundspeed two-zero-three. We'll be there in one hour and ten minutes. We'll be over the Dutch coast in two minutes.::Flying Officer F.M. Spafford, DFC, DFM: [Sees Dutch coast approaching] There it is now. Stand by front-gunner, we're going over.