Off to see a Dam or two

Image of the dams raid - off an airfix model box!!!



Lancaster Just Jane at East Kirkby

First trip of the year, and this one has a Dambusters theme. On May 16/17 It's the 70th anniversary of the dams raid, so with the local connection of RAF Scampton down the road, and me living on the site of the former RAF Skelllingthorpe, it's as good excuse as any.
The plan is to get the ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland tomorrow morning (Stena Line so it's courtesy of Tesco vouchers). Up to Amsterdam to spend the night with brother, and then over to Soest for a couple of nights visiting stuff with a Dambusters connection, including the dams of course. I'm also tying in some visits to places I used to live during the 70's.
Weather looking slightly dodgy and very cold with some snow forecast but the heated jacket will be on board so all should be well.
Itinerary includes Reichswald & Rheinberg war cemeteries, Mohne, Sorpe & Eder dams, Hamm, Soest, Overloon museum, what was RAF Laarbruch, Steenbergen. Back to Blighty Sunday afternoon.

I had a day out in January, and popped down to Woodhall Spa to have a look at the Petwood Hotel and the 617 squadron memorial in the village.

It was when reading the date on this plaque and realising it was the 70th anniversary that gave me the idea of a trip out to the Ruhr Valley!!

617 memorial in the shape of a breached dam



Remains of one of the practice bouncing bombs - in the Petwood Hotel car park





Petwood Hotel - became 617 squadron officers mess  in January 1944 when they moved from Coningsby to Woodhall Spa