Pretty Dam cool

Pilot's matter-of-fact record of WW2 raid tipped to make £15k at auction

- JAMES PODESTA

TWO RAF logbooks belonging to a pilot of the legendary Dambusters' raid are being sold by his family, along with the boots he wore.

Flight Lieutenant William 'Bill' Townsend's entry for the mission tells of a successful low-level attack over Germany's industrial heartlands.

However, the matter-of-fact record does not convey the astonishing nature of the Second World War raid or the skill and bravery of those involved.

The 617 Squadron was created solely for Operation Chastise, which was aimed at breaching a series of dams in Germany's Ruhr Valley in 1943.

RAF Lancasters flew dangerously low to drop bouncing bombs which skipped over the water before striking the dams.

Despite 53 out of the 133 men who took part being killed, the operation overnight on May 16 and 17 was a success and tremendous morale boost.