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617 Squadron

Aprés moi, le déluge – (After me, the flood)

Badge: On a roundel, a wall in fesse, fracted by three flashes of lightning in pile and issuant from the breach water proper – approved by King George VI in March 1944. The broken dam is indicative of the successful attack on the Rhur dams in May 1943.


Formed at Scampton on 21 March 1943 specifically to undertake one operation – Operation Chastise – the breaching of German dams. Equipped with Vulcans at Scampton from May 1958 to December 1981.

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