بمب‌افکن‌های سد: داستان واقعی مخترعان و خلبانانی که حمله ویرانگری را برای نابودی سدهای آلمانی در ۱۹۴۳ رهبری کردند

The night of 16 May, 1943. Nineteen specially adapted Lancaster bombers take off from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, each with a huge 9000lb cylindrical bomb strapped underneath it. Their mission: to destroy three dams deep within the German heartland, which provide the lifeblood to the industries supplying the Third Reich's war machine. From the outset it was an almost impossible task, a suicide mission: to fly low and at night in formation over many miles of enemy-occupied territory at the very limit of the Lancasters' capacity, and drop a new weapon that had never been tried operationally before from a precise height of just sixty feet from the water at some of the most heavily defended targets in Germany. More than that, the entire operation had to be put together in less than ten weeks. When visionary aviation engineer Barnes Wallis's concept of the bouncing bomb was green lighted, he hadn't even drawn up his plans for the weapon that was to smash the dams. What followed was an incredible race against time, which, despite numerous setbacks and against huge odds, became one of the most successful and game-changing bombing raids of all time. The night of May 16, 1943. Nineteen specially adapted Lancaster bombers take off from an RAF airfield in Lincolnshire, England, each with a huge nine-thousand-pound cylindrical bomb strapped underneath it. Their mission: to head deep into the German heartland and destroy three hydroelectric dams that power the Third Reich's war machine. From the outset it was an almost impossible task, a suicide mission. First the men had to fly extremely low, at night, and in tight formation over miles of enemy-occupied territory. Then, just sixty feet above the water and at some of the most heavily defended targets in Germany, they had to drop with pinpoint precision a complicated spinning cylindrical bomb that had never before been used operationally. More than that, the entire operation had to be put together in less than ten weeks, while the water levels in the dams were still high enough for the bombs to be effective. When the visionary aviation engineer Barnes Wallis's concept of the bouncing bomb was green-lighted, he hadn't even drawn up the plans for the weapon that was to smash the dams. What followed was an incredible race against time that, despite numerous setbacks and against huge odds, became one of the most successful and game-changing bombing raids of all time. James Holland's Dam Busters is meticulously researched and brilliantly told, sure to be the definitive history of this incredible raid. ** Review “ Dam Busters describes the maneuvering that went on behind the scenes before one of Britain’s most important efforts to cripple the Nazi war machine. . . . Holland is good at making complex matters clear . . . [and] good at writing action sequences.”— Wall Street Journal “Dramatically details the circumstances of this terrifying, improbably successful military operation. . . . Holland’s Dam Busters , thrilling, authoritative and containing astonishing photos, is a military history ‘must read.’ It is also a shining tribute to those intrepid young airmen.”— Tampa Bay Times “Veteran military historian Holland has composed an impeccably researched work in the style of a fast-paced techno-thriller. . . . Holland offers an authoritative account of a brilliant military operation conceived by a creative civilian; an excellent read for those with an interest in military and aviation history.”— Publishers Weekly “A well-written study of engineering and invention operating under great pressure. . . . For all World War II history buffs.”— Library Journal (starred review) "Extremely detailed but never dull . . . Holland offers a definitive, nuts-and-bolts history."— Kirkus Reviews "James Holland has achieved a near impossible feat. He has taken a tale we all thought we knew, told us we didn't know much until now and made it come alive." —Charles Glass, author of The Deserters: A Hidden History of World War II and Americans in Paris: Life and Death Under Nazi Occupation “The Dambusters Raid was a one-of-a-kind attack, totally unlike anything that had gone before, and it finds a brilliant chronicler in James Holland, whose scholarship and erudition vividly brings that extraordinary event to life seven decades later.” —Andrew Roberts, author of The Storm of War , Masters and Commanders , and A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1900 “An expertly researched and engaging read, Dam Busters sheds new light on the remarkable story of the men of 617 Squadron who led the raid to destroy Germany’s key hydroelectric dams. It also tells the lesser-known tale of the innovative scientists who developed the technology. James Holland vividly brings to life not only the main characters, but the entire incredible era as well."——Patrick K. O’Donnell, bestselling author of Dog Company “It took a remarkable combination of strategic ideas, skills, actions, and people to win the war for freedom in WWII. James Holland offers a thoroughly researched and highly descriptive narrative of how ingenious engineering and breathtaking courage accomplished an almost impossible task. Recommended for fans of military nonfiction everywhere.”—Marcus Brotherton, author of A Company of Heroes and Shifty’s War About the Author James Holland was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and studied history at Durham University. A member of the British Commission for Military History and the Guild of Battlefield Guides, he also regularly contributes reviews and articles in newspapers and magazines and appears on radio. His books include Fortress Malta, Italy's Sorrow, The Battle of Britain and his fictional World War II series featuring Sergeant Jack Tanner. He lives near Salisbury with his wife, son and daughter. Cover 2 Half title 3 Also by James Holland 4 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 8 List of Maps and Figures 10 Author’s Note 11 Cast List 13 Prologue 29 Part I: Towards Greenlight 46 1 Signs of Progress 48 2 A Method of Attacking the Axis Powers 62 3 Bouncing Bomb 77 4 Sink the Tirpitz 89 5 Sitting on the Fence 95 6 Bomber Boys 102 7 Panacea Mongers 116 8 Portal Power 125 9 Greenlight 137 Part II: The Race to Smash the Dams 144 10 The Main Offensive 146 11 Special Squadron 158 12 617 Squadron 173 13 Certain Dams 185 14 The Conquest of Nature 223 15 Low Level 235 16 Trials and Tribulations 250 17 A Matter of Height and Speed 264 18 Scampton and Reculver 280 19 Bottomley Sets the Date 289 20 Air Ministry versus the Admiralty 323 21 Countdown 339 Part III: The Raid 351 22 Final Day 353 23 Outward Journey 366 24 Goner 382 25 The Hardest Target 399 26 Homeward Bound 408 Part IV: Legacy 418 27 After the Raid 420 28 Katastrophe 434 29 Damn Busters 445 Postscript 455 Abbreviations 470 Operation CHASTISE Timeline 471 Operation CHASTISE Codewords 476 Notes 478 Sources 491 Acknowledgements 500 Picture Acknowledgements 503 Index 506 About the Author 531

The story of the British-made bombs, Upkeep and Highball, successfully dropped on Nazi dams “ has never been told in such depth before” ( Daily Mail, UK).
 
The night of May 16, 1943: Nineteen specially adapted Lancaster bombers take off from an RAF airfield in Lincolnshire, England, each with a huge nine-thousand-pound cylindrical bomb strapped underneath it. Their mission: to destroy three hydroelectric dams that power the Third Reich’s war machine.
 
It was a suicide mission from the outset. First the men had to fly extremely low, at night, and in tight formation over miles of enemy-occupied territory. Then they had to drop with pinpoint precision a complicated spinning cylindrical bomb that had never before been used operationally. More than that, the entire operation had to be put together in less than ten weeks in order to hit the dams when water levels were still high enough for the bombs to be effective.
 
The visionary aviation engineer Barnes Wallis hadn’t even drawn up plans for his concept when the bouncing bomb was green-lighted. What followed was an incredible race against time that, despite numerous setbacks, became one of the most successful and significant bombing raids of all time. “Holland has delved into the new trove” of declassified documents “to shed light on this weapons program, the politics of its development and the eventual mission” ( The Wall Street Journal ).
 
“An impeccably researched work in the style of a fast-paced techno-thriller.” — Publishers Weekly
 
“Extremely detailed but never dull . . . Holland offers a definitive, nuts-and-bolts history.” — Kirkus Reviews
 
“A well-written study of engineering and invention operating under great pressure. . . . For all World War II history buffs.” — Library Journal, starred review

The story of the British-made bombs, Upkeep and Highball, successfully dropped on Nazi dams “ has never been told in such depth before” ( Daily Mail , UK). The night of May 16, 1943: Nineteen specially adapted Lancaster bombers take off from an RAF airfield in Lincolnshire, England, each with a huge nine-thousand-pound cylindrical bomb strapped underneath it. Their mission: to destroy three hydroelectric dams that power the Third Reich’s war machine. It was a suicide mission from the outset. First the men had to fly extremely low, at night, and in tight formation over miles of enemy-occupied territory. Then they had to drop with pinpoint precision a complicated spinning cylindrical bomb that had never before been used operationally. More than that, the entire operation had to be put together in less than ten weeks in order to hit the dams when water levels were still high enough for the bombs to be effective. The visionary aviation engineer Barnes Wallis hadn’t even drawn up plans for his concept when the bouncing bomb was green-lighted. What followed was an incredible race against time that, despite numerous setbacks, became one of the most successful and significant bombing raids of all time. “Holland has delved into the new trove” of declassified documents “to shed light on this weapons program, the politics of its development and the eventual mission” ( The Wall Street Journal ). “An impeccably researched work in the style of a fast-paced techno-thriller.” — Publishers Weekly “Extremely detailed but never dull . . . Holland offers a definitive, nuts-and-bolts history.” — Kirkus Reviews “A well-written study of engineering and invention operating under great pressure. . . . For all World War II history buffs.” — Library Journal , starred review An account of the daring May 1943 mission to destroy three heavily defended German dams documents the ten-week race to create the necessary weapons and orchestrate a bombing raid that nearly cost the lives of its pilots