Dam Busters: Canadian Airmen and the Secret Raid Against Nazi Germany

by Ted Barris

National Bestseller Foreword by Peter Mansbridge “Barris tells the jaw-dropping story of a night that changed the war.” — The Globe and Mail  It was a night that changed the Second World War. The secret air raid against the hydroelectric dams of Germany’s Ruhr River took years to plan, involved an untried bomb and included the best aircrewmen RAF Bomber Command could muster—many of them Canadian. The attack marked the first time the Allies tactically took the war inside Nazi Germany. It was a military operation that became legendary. On May 16, 1943, nineteen Lancaster bombers carrying 133 airmen took off on a night sortie code-named Operation Chastise. Hand-picked and specially trained, the Lancaster crews flew at treetop level to the industrial heartland of the Third Reich and their targets—the Ruhr River dams, whose massive water reservoirs powered Nazi Germany’s military-industrial complex. Each Lancaster carried an explosive, which when released just sixty feet over the reservoirs, bounced like a skipping stone to the dam, sank and exploded. The raiders breached two dams and damaged a third. The resulting torrent devastated enemy power plants, factories and infrastructure a hundred miles downstream. Every airmen on the raid understood that the odds of survival were low. Of the nineteen outbound bombers, eight did not return. Operation Chastise cost the lives of fifty-three airmen, including fourteen Canadians. Of the sixteen RCAF men who survived, seven received military decorations. Based on interviews, personal accounts, flight logs, maps and photographs of the Canadians involved, Dam Busters recounts the dramatic story of these young Commonwealth bomber crews tasked with a high-risk mission against an enemy prepared to defend the Fatherland to the death.  

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, Canada, World War II, Aviation

480 pages, Hardcover

First published September 11, 2018

About the author

Ted Barris is an accomplished author, journalist and broadcaster. As well as hosting stints on CBC Radio and regular contributions to The Globe and Mail, the National Post, and various national magazines, he is a full-time professor of journalism at Centennial College in Toronto. Barris has authored seventeen non-fiction books, including the national bestsellers Victory at Vimy and Juno.

Reviews

[Susan Paxton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ted Barris' new book addresses a valuable and potentially fruitful topic: the Canadian airmen (including one American in RCAF service) who joined 617 Squadron for the raid on the German dams, Operation Chastise. Mostly it's an unfulfilled effort.

With research that, apart from some new interviews, seems to have been limited to a number of popular books and websites on the topic, Barris did not detect many of the myths and legends about 617 Squadron that he repeated, and his knowledge of the military background is often wanting. A number of the Canadians who flew the raid are very obscure and he did little to track down and recover what information could be found about them; even the men who survived for decades and talked about their experiences are often sketchily drawn. For a book that's 434 pages long (including the index), there is pretty much nothing other than a couple of quotes that's new here, which is a disappointment.

Probably what Barris could have done is, instead of writing this book, written more about the topic of his final pages - the adventures of people like Shere Fraser, Hartley Garshowitz, and others in search of their family members who served that day. That could be a brilliant, moving story and I encourage Barris to think about a sequel.

[Travis Whyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an incredible story of courage by pilots flying almost impossible missions… 200 kts and 60 ft above the deck! My uncle Billy was a bomber pilot lost during WW2; this book gave me so much insight into the experiences he would have had and the brotherhood he formed with his flight-crew.

[Magpie6493 · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's not a lot fundamentally wrong with this book I however did not care for the writing style and maybe that's just a me thing I dunno

[Vicky Earle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the compelling (true) story of how Operation Chastise, which involved many Canadian airmen, flew at about 60 feet to the industrial heart of Germany during World War II. Their mission was to take out strategic dams with a new type of bomb.
It is incredibly moving to read about the young men who so bravely fought for the benefit of all of us. I remember, as a child, watching the original movie on television, and being blown away by what they achieved.
The careful and thorough research Ted Barris has completed is truly amazing and captivating, including the more recent history of the families and of the restoration of a Lancaster bomber in Alberta, Canada.
Ted dares to put forward the debate on whether or not the the loss of life was "worth it". While any loss of life is tragic and abhorrent and heart-wrenching, I think most of us would say that those young men played a significant role in allowing us to enjoy the lives we live today.
Thank you, Ted, for helping to record this history for we Canadians and for doing such a superb job of putting the human face on all that happened.
By they way, you don't have to be Canadian to enjoy reading this book.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dam Busters: Canadian Airmen and the Secret Raid Against Nazi Germany
Ted Barris

The MacKenna brothers were vilified by the Cdn. Legion for their documentaries on Bomber Harris. This raid killed thousands of German civilians. History is written by the winners. Atrocities are committed only by the enemy.

And as usual the story begins with the machinations of politicians and military brass while Barnes Wallis laboured to solve the physics that would make the bombs work.

One by one we are introduced to the Canadians who will make up the special crew, yet unnamed and mission unknown.

Could have wished the captions in the picture supplement were attached to the actual photographs instead of lumped separately. The photographs make vividly plain the youth of the boys who flew--most cenotaphs show old men. The final chapters deal with legacy and commercialization. This book being one such example.

[Mark Creedon · Rating 4 out of 5]

There have been several books written about the famous air raid on the German hydroelectric dams on the Ruhr River but the others did not emphasize the great contributions made by Canadian airmen. This book does well in revealing the characters who developed the science and technology needed to accomplish their mission. The training, character and courage of the men who executed the raid is equally well done. The damage done to the Ruhr river dams did not end the war but it did significant damage to Germany's war production and instilled fear into the German population. It was a game changer. I highly recommend this book to those interested in WWII history and to any Canadian who needs convincing of our nation's grit.

[Debi Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr Barris can get a little deep into the details and I myself find this a little tedious at times. It is also those same details that helped me to understand what my father-in-law went through as a navigator on this type of bomber. His training, dedication, belief in what he was doing would help win a war over a maniac of the worst sort. It is a well-written book with a little repetition in it. Certainly, it is worth the effort to find out more about Canadian participation which far too often is overshadowed by the claims of other countries.

[Brent Spurrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Canadian Forces Veteran & an avid military reader I really have an appreciation for the accuracy & detail by Ted Harris & Canada's contribution to this incredibly important mission. The Dam Busters is a must read in my mind. I met the author in Ottawa & picked up a couple of hard cover signed & dated books from both Ted & another Canadian Author Professor David O'Keefe who is himself a Veteran, Author & Academic.

[Selina Mist · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very well researched and organized. I was surprised when the operation happened just past the halfway mark in the book. The inclusion of the aftermath - how the dams raid was recieved and the noteriety over the years and history of the planes and journals - was a neat addition.

It was however very dry and read like a textbook. Great if you want all the names and dates, not so great if you're looking for an emotional connection or more story-like structure.

[LDD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an amazing read and important acknowledgment of Canadian involvement in helping the Allies win the war against fascism. The incredible bravery involved in the “dam busters” raids coupled with ingenuity and dedication no doubt helped divert enemy efforts for other activities that ultimately turned the tide in the Allies favour.

[Ben Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and the look back at what men and women from different countries came together to achieve. The story is about a special group of bomber pilots that came together to do the impossible.

[Garry Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Canadian it makes me even prouder of those who chose to join the various armed forces of this country regardless of the risk involved.

Also proud of their families that won't let their accomplishments be forgotten.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have heard Barris speak on more than one occasion and he is passionate about his research. It shows in this book. I am impressed that it is not just a war story, but follows up after the war and with families of the bomber crews.

[Bob Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Good.

[Chris Tschirhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adequate read. Not Kieth's best but coverage and some new information on Canadian Crew members. I thought it would have covered more of the individual Canadian participants in more depth.

[Marie Patton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed book that chronicles the stories of the Canadians involved in this raid and in the Air Forces in the Second World War. I think this is important Canadian history.

[Stephen Bedard · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most incredible stories of World War Two. This book is unique in that it covers the Canadian involvement. An inspiring story of courage and self-sacrifice.

[James Weare · Rating 2 out of 5]

The history is certainly important, but this book is repetitive and just not all that interesting.

[Wayne Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heavy on the data but still develops a good story from a Canadian perspective.

[David Walley · Rating 3 out of 5]

With only a quarter of the population of the UK, Canada provided 40% of the crew for the Dam Busters raid of 617 Squadron. Quite remarkable

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb book. I’ve read one other book about the Dam Busters and this book was just as good. I enjoyed the focus on the Canadians warriors who played an integral role in raid.

[Charlie Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read and testament to the brave Canadians and Americans who flew with the legendary Dambuster 617 Squadron. At times very moving. Recommended