Operation Chastise was an attack on the major dams of western Germany carried out on 16–17 May 1943 by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, later called the Dam Busters, using a purpose-built "bouncing bomb" developed by Sir Barnes Wallis. The dams of the Derwent Valley and Eyebrook Reservoir were amongst practice sites used in preparation for the raid.
Subject to confirmation the fly-past, organised by the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, will mark the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force and 75th anniversary of the Royal Air Force Raid on major German dams by 617 Squadron, later known as ‘The Dambusters’. It is proposed that the BBMF Lancaster Bomber will fly over RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, (original home of the Dambusters’ Squadron), over the Derwent Dam in the heart of the Peak District at around 12.05pm and down the Derwent Valley over Chatsworth before heading to Rolls Royce in Derby (the Lancaster is powered by 4 Rolls-Royce Merlin engines) and onwards to the Eyebrook Reservoir in Leicestershire.
Please note that if you wish to see the fly-past there are road congestions expected. Measures will be put into place to keep traffic flowing in the Ladybower area which attracted around 10,000 spectators during the last fly-past in 2014.
But roads are likely to be very congested and some routes will be closed altogether.
We strongly recommend leaving plenty of time for your journey and to allow yourself to reach your desired viewing location.
Further details will be released in due course, but please see: Derbyshire.GOV and PeakDistrict.GOV for advice on traffic and other arrangements in the area.
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