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The Bomber Boys by James Dietz. (B) On the night of 16 / 17 May 1943, in one of the most daring low-level missions of the war, the men of newly-formed 617 Squadron, under the command of Guy Gibson, attacked the great dams of the Ruhr. The story of their audacious raid gained the squadron immediate fame and thereafter they would be known simply as the 'Dambusters'. But for the hundreds of airmen who followed in their footsteps, the destruction of the great dams was merely the beginning for this new squadron of low-flying, precision-bombing experts. Over the next two years their courageous exploits would earn the respect of the world. They did so under the command of some of Bomber Command's greatest leaders. Following in Gibson's footsteps were men such as the inspirational Leonard Cheshire VC, described by the London Gazette as having 'a reputation second to none in Bomber Command', and who helped pioneer precision target marking and the accurate delivery of Barnes Wallis's new deep-penetration 'earthquake' Tallboy bombs, especially in the operations against V-weapon sites in northern France. Cheshire's worthy successor was James Tait, who led the raids against the Tirpitz and whose Tallboy bomb eventually sank the mighty German battleship. In December 1944, having completed over 100 operations, Tait handed over the reins to Canadian Jimmy Farquier - described as probably the finest bomber pilot in the RCAF - and the man who would lead 617 Squadron until the last raid of the war. Under his stewardship the airmen of 617 Squadron were to reach new heights of fame, delivering Tallboy's massive big brother - the Grand Slam - Barnes Wallis's piéce-de-résistance, a 22,000lb bomb whose warhead contained over 9,000lbs of explosive, making it the most powerful conventional bomb of World War II. In the capable hands of 617 Squadron's specially modified Lancasters, they destroyed targets such as the great Arnsberg and Bielefeld viaducts, and the seemingly indestructible Valentin U-boat pens on the banks of the River Weser, whose huge 15ft walls supported a roof that in places was 23ft thick. The squadron flew their last mission of the war on 25 April 1945, their Tallboys helping to destroy much of Hitler's once-fabled mountain retreat at Obersalzberg. This highly detailed and carefully researched painting fittingly depicts this famous unit to represent all those who served with Bomber Command during World War II. The crews have just returned safely to RAF Scampton after a long, hazardous raid over enemy territory. Tired, weary and thankful to have made it back in one piece, they can at last stretch their legs and enjoy some welcome refreshments before heading off to de-brief and a much-needed rest. AMAZING VALUE! - The value of the signatures on this item is in excess of the price of the print itself! Item Code : DHM6618B The Bomber Boys by James Dietz. (B) - This Edition TYPE EDITION DETAILS SIZE SIGNATURES OFFERS YOUR PRICE PURCHASING PRINT 617 Squadron edition of 125 prints. SOLD OUT. Image size 27 inches x 13.5 inches (69cm x 35cm) Paper size 33.5 inches x 21 inches (85cm x 53cm) Bell, John Johnson, George L Goodman, L S Benny Grimes, S V Avey, Charles + Artist : James Dietz Signature(s) value alone : £120 SOLD OUT NOT AVAILABLE All prices on our website are displayed in British Pounds Sterling

Other editions of this item : The Bomber Boys by James Dietz. DHM6618 TYPE EDITION DETAILS SIZE SIGNATURES OFFERS YOUR PRICE PURCHASING PRINT Signed limited edition of 150 prints. SOLD OUT. Image size 27 inches x 13.5 inches (69cm x 35cm) Paper size 33.5 inches x 21 inches (85cm x 53cm) Bell, John + Artist : James Dietz Signature(s) value alone : £10 SOLD OUT VIEW EDITION... PRINT Bomber Command edition of 100 prints. SOLD OUT. Image size 27 inches x 13.5 inches (69cm x 35cm) Paper size 33.5 inches x 21 inches (85cm x 53cm) Bell, John Johnson, George L Goodman, L S Benny Grimes, S V Avey, Charles Waughman, Russell Kirby, Harold Gard, Ron Key, Ted Noye, Rupert + Artist : James Dietz Signature(s) value alone : £210 SOLD OUT VIEW EDITION... General descriptions of types of editions :

Signatures on this item
*The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare.
Name	Info
Flight Lieutenant S V Grimes *Signature Value : £15	Wireless Operator with No.617 Sqn.
Flight Sergeant Charles Avey *Signature Value : £10	Joining the RAF in 1944 he was posted to 617 Sqn as a Mid Upper Gunner on Lancasters and flew on the last 11 Operations of the war, dropping Grand Slam and Tall Boy bombs.
Squadron Leader George L. Johnson DFM (deceased) *Signature Value : £45	Joining the RAF in 1940, George Johnson served with 97 Squadron before joining 617 Squadron. Bomb aimer on American Joe McCarthys Lancaster AJ-T, they attacked the Sorpe Dam, for which he was awarded the DFM. Commissioned a few months later, George retired from the RAF in 1962. The last surviving Dambuster, he died aged 101 on 7th December 2022.
Squadron Leader L S Benny Goodman (deceased) *Signature Value : £40	Benny Goodman (Pilot) volunteered for aircrew at 18 years of age and was called up in 1940. After basic training he went to RAF Abingdon - a Whitley OTU - for what he was told would be straight through training. This did not materialise and he found himself in the role of a Ground Gunner. In 1941, a posting eventually came through to the Initial Training Wing followed by Elementary Fyling School at Peterborough and an instructors course at Woodley, Reading; then to Clyffe Pyparde, a holding unit. A sea journey to Canada followed and Service Flying Training School on Ansons. On completion he was posted to Kingston, Ontario, to instruct Acting Leading Naval Airmen on the Royal Navy tactics of the time, e.g. jinking after take off, dive bombing, etc. Eventually he returned to the UK and OTU on Wellingtons at Silverstone and Heavy Conversion Bomber Unit at Swinderby on Stirlings, followed by a short course at the Lancaster Conversion Unit. After an interview Benny and his crew were surprised and delighted to find they had been selected for 617 squadron - this was in 1944 and they had stayed together as a crew on 617 squadron until the war in Europe ended. He completed 30 missions - all with Jock Burnett as his flight engineer. Notable raids Jock took part in were on the Tirpitz, 29th October 1944, dropping the Grand Slam 22,000 bomb on the Arnsberg Viaduct, 19th March 1945, and the attack on Berchtesgarten Eagles Nest, 25th May 1945. Benny Goodman died in July 2021.
Wing Commander John Bell *Signature Value : £10	After initially training as a Navigator he went on to complete most of his 50 ops in Lancasters as a Bomb Aimer with 617 Sqn, including all the raids against the Tirpitz.

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