The similarity between the Upper Derwent Valley and the Ruhr Valley in Germany led to the Derwent dams being used for target practice by Lancaster bombers of 617 squadron - better known as the Dam Busters. Derwent church tower was left intact when the Ladybower reservoir was flooded in 1943.
Did the Dambusters practice at Ladybower Reservoir?
Just off the A57 halfway between Glossop and Sheffield, Located between the Ladybower reservoir and the Howden Dam, for six weeks prior to the attacks on the great dams of Germany. This dam was used by the Lancaster bomber pilots to practice the bombing runs and target practice.
Ladybower Reservoir is historically significant as the place Guy Gibsdon and his men trained for the raid on the dams of the Ruhr Valley. The whole of the Derwent Valley in which the dam is located is a prime hill walking area in the Dark Peak area.
This scenic training ground where the 617 Dam Busters squadron practiced low-level flying for raids on German dams in the Second World War was featured in the famous film The Dam Busters (1955). More recently, Ladybower Reservoir's giant 'plug hole' was used in scenes for Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015).
The Dam Busters (1955), which detailed the events of the raid, is considered by many as one of Britain's greatest war films. Much of the film was shot at RAF Hemswell.
In 1976, 1995, 2018, and 2022 dry conditions caused the water level to drop and the village of Derwent to be exposed once again. In 2018, this caused unprecedented crowds to visit the rarely visible site.
The last surviving Dambuster has died at the age of 101. George Leonard "Johnny" Johnson was the last surviving original member of RAF 617 Squadron's famous "Dambusters" raid of 1943. He died peacefully at his care home in Westbury on Trym, Bristol, on Wednesday night surrounded by his family, according to a source.
Historical accuracy. A bomb aimer prepares to drop his bouncing bomb using an improvised device to determine the correct distance from the dam. The film is largely historically accurate, with only a small number of changes made for reasons of dramatic licence.
Building the Ladybower dam meant flooding the villages of Derwent and Ashopton despite much local opposition. Graves in Derwent churchyard had to be exhumed and reburied in the nearby village of Bamford as part of the project.
The Germans were shocked by the amount of devastation in relation to the small number of bombers used. They quickly repaired the dams, though, which Bomber Command neglected* to interfere with. There was a significant loss of hydroelectric power which affected both war industry and civilian life.
There are two Derwent Reservoirs in England: Derwent Reservoir (Derbyshire) Derwent Reservoir (North East England) on the border between County Durham and Northumberland.
The plugholes are located next to Ladybower Dam. The best access is from Heatherdene Car Park and walk to Ladybower dam in about 10 minutes, follow the path from the southern end of the car park.
There were just eight weeks of intensive low-level training and technical preparation before the raid. Nobody in the squadron except for its most senior members was aware of the targets until the briefing on the day of the raid itself.
One lesser known fact is that the planes had to fly exceptionally low to deliver their heavy, unwieldy cargo. Even the training was risky, with pilots making runs at extreme low altitude.
A man who suffered a medical episode while on a walk near a reservoir had to be saved from falling into the water. The man had been walking with friends near Ladybower Dam, near Bamford, Derbyshire, at about 14:45 GMT on Monday when he collapsed, said Edale Mountain Rescue Team (MRT).
🏊 No swimming - we know the water looks inviting but please do not swim in the reservoirs. There are hidden obstacles, steep drops and very cold temperatures making them unsafe for swimming! 🔥 No BBQs or open fires are allowed within the Peak District National Park.
On the night of 16-17 May 1943, Wing Commander Guy Gibson led 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force on an audacious bombing raid to destroy three dams in the Ruhr valley, the industrial heartland of Germany. The mission was codenamed Operation 'Chastise'.
Many claim the Dam Busters to be one of the finest films ever made about the Second World War, so much so that it often garners praise for its accurate treatment of the real raids of 1943. This is mainly down to Michael Anderson's desire to toe the line as much as feasible in keeping the film as accurate as possible.
The last surviving Dambuster has died at the age of 101. George Leonard "Johnny" Johnson was the last surviving original member of RAF 617 Squadron's famous "Dambusters" raid of 1943. He died peacefully at his care home in Westbury on Trym, Bristol, on Wednesday night surrounded by his family, according to a source.
Dambusters. During the Second World War, the reservoir was used by pilots of the 617 Squadron for practising the low-level flights needed for Operation Chastise (commonly known as the "Dam Busters" raids), due to its similarity to the German dams.
Derwent Water has been called 'Queen of the Lakes' because of the way it's cradled by the surrounding fells. Visit the viewpoints and historic sculptures on a lakeside stroll or set off from Keswick to explore the surrounding woodlands and fells.
