The Upper Derwent Reservoir Viewpoint & its Dambusters History
The Halifax bombers of 617 Squadron (The Dambusters) practised dropping the newly developed Bouncing Bombs here because the surrounding terrain was similar to that of the Ruhr Valley, where their eventual target was. The technique for these bombs was incredibly difficult, first of all due to the steep approach over the surrounding hills, but then within a very short distance, the bombers had to position themselves at exactly 60 feet above the surface, at exactly the correct speed and had somehow to know when they were at the precise distance from the dam wall, to release the bombs. All this in pitch darkness and with no GPS or Altimeters.
(10th January 2021)
