Forum for residents of St Georges Park and Long Leys Road Lincoln

[john shipton]

On 21st March 1943, 617 Squadron was formed under the leadership of Wing Commander Guy Gibson who was a fomer commanding office of 106 Squadron based at RAF Syerston.
Its mission flying from RAF Scampton, near Lincoln, was to breach the Mohne, Eder, and Sorpe dams of Nazi Germany. The instructions came from Air Marshal Arthur Harris.
The wing commander was granted the unprecedented privilege of selecting all of his 21 Lancaster crews some of which came from 106.
19 specially modified Lancaster bombers took part in operation called "Chastise" on the evening of 16th May 1943.
Nine aircraft were lost on the raid and 53 brave young airmen were killed.
617 Squadron became known as The Dam Busters and still retains its nickname today.
The squadron still remains in operation with the Royal Air Force and is currently based at RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland.
Squadron Leader James Kent is a Flight Commander with 617 Squadron. He graduated from RAF College Cranwell in 1998 after his commission as a navigator with the RAF in 1997.
He has trained and has flown in a number of piston and jet aircraft. James has served both abroad and throughout the United Kingdom with the RAF. He has completed 6 operational tours in Kuwait and Qatar and did 30 combat sorties during Gulf War 2 in 2003.
His squadrons have been 13 and 11 (AC) Squadrons.
While now serving with 617 Squadron he has completed a tour of duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Squadron Leader Kent has accepted an invitiation to give a talk at the next aviation lecture which is being held at the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre on Wednesday, 27th May 2009, beginning at 7.30pm.
His talk and topic will be "617 Squadron, Past, Present, and Future."
Admission is £4.00 for visitors which includes refreshments but it is free to members of Friends of Metheringam Airfield.
Former RAF Metheringham was based at Martin Moor, Metheringham, Lincoln.
For further details please telephone 01526 378270/378604.

John Shipton,
Press Officer,
Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre,
Lincoln.