As the first of 20 modified Avro Lancasters arrived at RAF Scampton on 8th April 1943, the specially assembled volunteer crews of specialist ‘Squadron X’ (later allocated the RAF squadron number 617) from within 5 Group Bomber Command must have been intrigued. The new aircraft were B.III (Specials), referred to at Avro’s Woodford factory as Lancaster Type 464 Provisioning and each one had been modified with equipment to deliver the Vickers Type 464 ‘Upkeep’ mine. Although the mines had not been delivered to Scampton at that time, talk amongst the crews inevitably turned to discussing their intended target, with most assuming they would be sent to attack the massive German battleship Tirpitz.

As more Lancaster’s arrived, the commander of this new squadron, Wing Commander Guy Gibson, selected Lancaster ED932/AJ-G as his own aircraft, due to the fact that the bomber’s codes were the same as his father’s initials, Alexander James Gibson. Gibson and the crew of ED932 were amongst the first to train with their new aircraft and their unusual bombs, releasing their mines at a test site at Reculver on the north Kent coast from 12th May 1943, just five days before crews embarked on their historic raid.

 After a period of intense training and on the day prior to the raid, Gibson was finally briefed on the intended targets – ‘Operation Chastise’ would be striking at the industrial heart of Germany, the great dams of the Ruhr Valley.At 21.39 on 16th May 1943, Gibson and Lancaster ED932 took off from RAF Scampton at the head of the first attack wave of nine Lancasters heading for the Mohne Dam, flying a route over Suffolk, then the North Sea, crossing the Dutch coast at Zeeland, before heading inland attempting to avoid known areas of Luftwaffe defences. As Gibson and his crew made their attack run on the Mohne Dam, the other Lancasters of the first wave circled the target area, watching the effectiveness of the attack run and waiting for the instruction to commence their own attack.

Having released their mine, Gibson and his crew flew alongside the other aircraft during their attacks, attempting to draw enemy fire away from the attacking aircraft, giving them the best chance of effecting a breach. The fifth mine dropped was a perfect run and exploded in exactly the right place to cause the already weakened dam to fail – they had done it.In the years which followed, this incredible operation was referred to as the ‘Dambusters Raid’ and No.617 Squadron would become one of the RAF’s most famous units.

‘Operation Chastise’ was heralded as a spectacular success for Bomber Command, but at a heavy cost, as eight Lancasters and 53 airmen failed to return.No.617 Squadron continues the proud legacy of the Dambusters airmen to this day, as the first operational RAF unit equipped with the Lockheed Martin® F-35® Lightning, symbolically officially reforming in April 2018, the month in which the Royal Air Force commemorated its centenary.

What’s Inside

Avro Lancaster B.III (Special) and F-35B model kits

Instruction Sheets, paint layout, decals, paint, glue and brush. 

Additional information

DIMENSIONS: 29.4 × 8.68 × 43.2 cm

COLOUR: Unpainted

MATERIAL: Plastic

SCALE: 1:72

SKILL LEVEL: 3

NUMBER OF PARTS: 267

ASSEMBLY TYPE: Partial Assembly Required

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If a refund is required, please return the goods within 30 days of receipt.  
Please safely package your parcel, and include your original paperwork and a note explaining your reason for return. If you have discarded the paperwork, we at the very least need a piece of paper that identifies who you are, an order number (you can find this on your email confirmation) and the reason for returning it to us. 

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RAFATRAD, Atlas House, Wembley Road, Leicester LE3 1UT 

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If your return is approved, we will initiate a refund to your credit/debit card or via the PayPal account used for the original purchase. Once we process your credit, the duration of the bank transfer will depend on your card issuer’s policies.   

Due to us being a charitable foundation and the rising costs of shipping we are unable to offer free returns. 

Damaged Goods
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Once we receive your email we will be able to arrange for the matter to be resolved as quickly and easily as possible. 

Exchanges 
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If you wish to exchange your item for a different colour or size or another item. Please safely package your original item you wish to return, and include your original paperwork and a note explaining your reason for return (e.g need a different size). 

If you have discarded the paperwork, we at the very least need a piece of paper that identifies who you are, an order number (you can find this on your email confirmation) and the reason for returning it to us. 

Please return your item(s) to the following address: 
RAFATRAD, Atlas House, Wembley Road, Leicester LE3 1UT 

When we receive the item back we will process a full refund. Once that refund has been processed (or before if you wish) you can then place a new order for the alternative item. 

If you would like us to reserve the new size or colour item for you while you wait for your refund to be processed, please let us know. We can keep the new item aside for you until you are in a position to purchase it. If you would like us to do this please email orders@rafatrad.co.uk 

Cancelling an order 
You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of receipt, for a full refund. This does not apply to goods personalised or made to your specification.   

To cancel your order, quote your order/invoice number for reference and contact our team via email to orders@rafatrad.co.uk