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Après Moi, le Déluge takes the audience through the experiences of Royal Air Force Squadron 617 as they embark on the famous “Operation Chastise” raid, earning them the famous title, “Dambusters.” The squadron was formed under great secrecy during World War II at the British Royal Airforce’s Scampton station on the 21st of March, 1943. Not only did it involve British forces, but also soldiers of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and Royal New Zealand Air Force. This squadron was created in order to attack three dams (Möhne, Eder, and Sorpe) that provided water and power to the Ruhr industrial region in Germany in favor of the Nazis. The plan, codenamed “Operation Chastise,” was executed on the 17th of May, 1943.
The squadron took time to carefully develop the tactics required to deploy Barnes Wallis’ “Bouncing Bomb” due to the torpedo nets that were underneath the waters, preventing the breach of the dams. The raids were mostly successful. However, the raid on the Sorpe dam wasn’t successful as the dam only sustained minor damage. Through both successes and failures, the raid crippled German forces for months and helped propel the Allies toward victory. The adopted the motto, “Après Moi, le Déluge” as a play on words that is French for “After Me, the Flood.” This motto derived from King Louis XV of France that can be interpreted to mean that they will fight to the bitter end if it means to bring honor to their country.
approx. 6’55”
Après Moi, le Déluge takes the audience through the experiences of Royal Air Force Squadron 617 as they embark on the famous “Operation Chastise” raid, earning them the famous title, “Dambusters.” The squadron was formed under great secrecy during World War II at the British Royal Airforce’s Scampton station on the 21st of March, 1943. Not only did it involve British forces, but also soldiers of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and Royal New Zealand Air Force. This squadron was created in order to attack three dams (Möhne, Eder, and Sorpe) that provided water and power to the Ruhr industrial region in Germany in favor of the Nazis. The plan, codenamed “Operation Chastise,” was executed on the 17th of May, 1943.
The squadron took time to carefully develop the tactics required to deploy Barnes Wallis’ “Bouncing Bomb” due to the torpedo nets that were underneath the waters, preventing the breach of the dams. The raids were mostly successful. However, the raid on the Sorpe dam wasn’t successful as the dam only sustained minor damage. Through both successes and failures, the raid crippled German forces for months and helped propel the Allies toward victory. The adopted the motto, “Après Moi, le Déluge” as a play on words that is French for “After Me, the Flood.” This motto derived from King Louis XV of France that can be interpreted to mean that they will fight to the bitter end if it means to bring honor to their country.
approx. 6’55”