T for Tommy coming in hot
2330 on 16 May 1943: Having got through the “very hot reception” from searchlights and flak guns on the Dutch coastal islands that had been alerted by earlier aircraft, 617 Squadron’s backup Type 464 Lancaster, ED825/G AJ-T (“T for Tommy”), flown by American Flt Lt Joe McCarthy, heads into Gelderland at extremely low level with its Upkeep "bouncing bomb" depth charge now primed.
Unbeknown to the crew, they are the only bomber left from Operation Chastise’s northern wave that is going to make it through to the Ruhr dams - to drop its weapon on the Sorpe accurately but unsuccessfully.
McCarthy took ED825 at the last minute because of a problem with his designated Lancaster. It had two features not shared with all the other aircraft on the mission: the altimeter spotlights had not been fitted - and it retained the .303 ventral gun specified for the type but actually not used.
Unbeknown to the crew, they are the only bomber left from Operation Chastise’s northern wave that is going to make it through to the Ruhr dams - to drop its weapon on the Sorpe accurately but unsuccessfully.
McCarthy took ED825 at the last minute because of a problem with his designated Lancaster. It had two features not shared with all the other aircraft on the mission: the altimeter spotlights had not been fitted - and it retained the .303 ventral gun specified for the type but actually not used.
Author: Gary Eason
© Gary Eason
Picture size: 10.7 Mpixels (30.7 MB uncompressed) - 4000x2679 pixels (13.3x8.9 in / 33.9x22.7 cm at 300 dpi)
Picture keywords: aeroplane, aircraft, airplane, AJ-T, American pilot, aviation, Avro Lancaster, bomber, bouncing bomb, Dambusters, dykes, ED825, enemy coast, flak, Flight Artworks, Flt Lt Joe McCarthy, Gary Eason Photography, Gelderland, Holland, ingress, Lancaster, Lancaster bomber, low flight, low flying, low level flying, moonlight, Netherlands, Operation Chastise, RAF, searchlights, Sorpe Dam, T for Tommy, Upkeep, weapon, windmills, World War II
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