Today is the anniversary of the famous Operation Chastise, the raid on the German dams by Guy Gibson’s 617 Squadron, which took place on the night of 16/17 May 1943.

To mark the anniversary, we are publishing an article by Clive Smith, 106 Squadron Researcher: FROM GIBSON’S 106 SQUADRON TO 83 SQUADRON PFF. Clive points out the many interesting links between Gibson’s 106 Squadron (from which many of 617 Squadron’s aircrew came, along with Gibson himself) to 83 Squadron of the Pathfinders.

Amongst those who moved from 106 Squadron to 83 Squadron prior to Operation Chastise was John Searby, one of the most famous of the Pathfinder squadron commanders and pilots, who is pictured here with Bennett in an impromptu snap which does not seem to have pleased either of them.