Dambusters Anniversary

THIS WAS the view above the Derwent Dam in Derbyshire on Friday 16 May, 2008, as an Avro Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight swept over the dam wall to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the 'Dambusters' mission.

The main access to the dam was closed for the ceremony, with only veterans and other ticket-holding guests allowed in. However, those of us prepared to walk over the hills were rewarded with this view of the flypast. Squeezing every ounce of occasion out of the morning, the Lancaster took five passes of the dam before being succeeded by two Tornados, a Dakota DC3 and the Memorial Flight's fighting double act, the Hurricane and Spitfire.

It was a wonderful experience, the sort that gets the hair standing on the back of your neck and brings a tear to the eye.