PREPARING T-TOMMY AND THE LAST BRITISH DAMBUSTER - THE PRINT AND BOOK PORTFOLIO
617 ground crew prepare Lancaster AJ-T for Operation Chastise on the afternoon of Sunday 16 May 1943. Originally the reserve aircraft, AJ-T was flown to the Sorpe Dam by Flight Lieutenant Joe McCarthy and his crew after their aircraft AJ-Q developed a coolant leak moments before take-off. Bomb Aimer George 'Johnny' Johnson successfully released their bomb, spot on target, at 00.46 hrs in the morning, 17 May 1943.