The final word in our tribute to the Dambusters can only rest with the courageous leader of Operation ‘Chastise’, Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar.
One hour to go, and one hour left before Germany, one hour of peace before flak. I thought to myself: here are 133 boys who have got one hour to live before going through hell. Some of them won’t get back. It won’t be me – you never think you are not coming back.*
We won’t all get back, but who is it who will be unlucky out of these 133 men? What are they thinking about? Are they just thinking about their job, or steering their course? What is the rear-gunner in Melvyn Young’s ship thinking? Because he won’t be coming back. What is the rear-gunner in Henry Maude’s [Maudslay] ship thinking? Because he won’t be coming back. What is the rear-gunner in Hoppy’s ‘plane thinking? What are his ideas on life? Because he is going to bale-out at about eighty feet, survive by a miracle and be put in a prison camp. He and the bomb aimer are going to be the only boys in this raid to be taken prisoner. [sic] The rest are going to be killed – those who don’t get back. One hour to go. One hour to think of these thin…
