Airfix 1:72 – Avro Lancaster B.III (SPECIAL) ‘THE DAMBUSTERS’

This special Dambusters 80th Anniversary pack includes a Film Booklet from “Attack on Sorpe Dam”, an A5 Picture Card of Avro Lancaster AJ-T ED825 and a decal set for Avro Lancaster B.III, AJ-T.

Airfix – Avro Lancaster B.III (SPECIAL) ‘THE DAMBUSTERS’
Airfix | A09007A | 1:72 Scale

Following a short but intense period of training, the volunteer group of crack airmen who made up the new RAF No.617 Squadron took off from RAF Scampton on the night of 16th/17th May 1943, at the start of the most audacious bombing raid in history.

Led by their enigmatic and inspirational commanding officer Guy Gibson, he is reputed to have said, ‘This squadron will either make history, or it will be completely wiped out’, but nevertheless, every man was determined to play their part in this historic raid. Nineteen ‘Special’ Lancaster’s and their crews sent a message to the German nation that could not be disguised by their propaganda ministers.

Standard paint scheme options:

• Avro Lancaster B.III, AJ-G
  • Aircraft flown by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, Commanding Officer, “Operation Chastise”, No.617 Squadron, Royal Air Force Scampton, England, 16/17th May, 1943. (A)
• Avro Lancaster B.III, AJ-W
  • Aircraft flown by Squadron Leader John Leslie (Les) Munro, “Operation Chastise”, No.617 Squadron, Royal Air Force Scampton, England, 16/17th May, 1943. (B)

Contents: Sprues and decals

• Scale: 1:72
• Flying Hours: Approx. 3 hours total time to make not including painting.
• Skill: 3
• Dimensions (mm): L312mm x W432mm
• Number of Parts: 267

* Glue and paints not included.

This special Dambusters 80th Anniversary pack includes:

• • A Film Booklet from “Attack on Sorpe Dam”, which is a film based on a true story of an event set within the context of the RAF bomber offensive on Germany, during the Second World War. The story features a first-hand account from the perspective of George “Johnny” Johnson, a young 21 year old RAF 617 Squadron bomb aimer.
  • An A5 Picture Card of Avro Lancaster B.III, AJ-T ED825, the aircraft flown by Flt Lt Joe McCarthy with George ‘Johnny’ Johnson as the aircraft’s bomb aimer.
  • Additional decals for your Airfix model to create Avro Lancaster B.III, AJ-T ED825.
    • Aircraft flown by Flt Lt Joe McCarthy, “Operation Chastise”, No.617 Squadron, Royal Air Force Scampton, England, 16/17th May, 1943.

Johnny Johnson was Britain’s last surviving Dambuster and was awarded an MBE for his remarkable services in World War II

“I was anxious to fight. Hitler was the bastard who had started all this and he needed sorting out. We were under threat. Everything we stood for: our country, our families and our way of life was being attacked by this maniac. He could not be allowed to win. So for me and many, many others like me, there was no alternative. We were in a pickle and something had to be done.”

On May 16, 1943, Johnny, alongside 132 specially selected comrades, took off from RAF Scampton airbase in Lincolnshire. For six weeks they had been trained to fulfil one mission that was near impossible: to destroy three dams deep within Germany’s Ruhr Valley. It was a daring task but, against the odds, Johnny and his crew survived. Sadly, 53 comrades did not.

George ‘Johnny’ Johnson passed away in December 2022 at the age of 101.