NEWS

This month marked the 75^th anniversary of the iconic Dambusters raid. The Dam Busters was an attack on German dams carried out on 16–17 May 1943 by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron using a purpose built ‘bouncing bomb.’  This military raid inspired the classic film The Dam Busters which was made at Elstree Studios. The film tells the true story of the raid and was the most popular film at the British box office in 1955.

On 17^th May 2018 The Royal Albert Hall had a special commemorative gala event which was screened in nearly 400 cinemas across the country. To mark the occasion, there was an exclusive video featuring the last surviving member of the raid, Johnny Johnson, discussing his memories of his fallen colleagues. Squadron Leader George “Johnny” Johnson, 96, flew over the Derwent Valley in Derbyshire to mark 75 years since the raid took place.

The Dam Busters was first released in the UK in 1955, and directed by the late Michael Anderson who died earlier this year. The film starred Richard Todd, Michael Redgrave, Ursula Jeans and Basil Sydney.

Barnes Wallis, an aeronautical engineer, played by Michael Redgrave, convinced the powers that his theory of making a bouncing bomb for the proposed attacks could become a reality even though it would mean damaging German industry. Actor George Baker was cast as Flight Lieutenant David Maltby in the film. David Maltby was the RAF pilot who actually hit the dam with his bomb and burst it.

Paul Welsh, Film Historian, says ‘This is a classic Elstree film from the 1950’s. The Studio spent two years in pre-production as it was a prestige production and it had to be accurate. The recently departed director Michael Anderson told me they warned him if they did not like the early rushes he would be replaced but he did a great job. The star was Richard Todd who I had the pleasure to host a plaque unveiling in his honour in 1996 at Elstree. I knew him for many years and the last time I saw the film was sitting next to him at a public screening shortly before his death.

In 1989 I invited several of the original RAF crew who took part in the raid to a reception at Elstree Studios. They were old men then but I was in awe of them as back in 1943 they were young lads with an appalling survival rate but they still made us all proud. I think The Dam Busters is a great movie. Okay the special effects are dated but it has stood the test of time. Plus who can forget the wonderful music score. This was Elstree Studios at its best in the 1950’s.’

Roger Morris, Managing Director of Elstree Studios, says ‘The Dam Busters was an iconic film, they used the water tank at the back of the studios the tank is currently under the Big Brother house. We have a marvelous picture of the film crew and cast with a Lancaster. There’s a certain magic about Elstree and its studios, so many iconic films have been made here.’