Chaplin House B & B

The Dambusters: Fact and Fiction

The Lancaster, and sometimes Spitfires or Typhoons (very much not W.W.II) fairly often grace the skies over Martin, the village where Chaplin House Bed and Breakfast is situated. 

On Sunday, we sat down together to watch a Dambusters programme on BBC 2: Dambusters Declassified. We were intrigued by new information: that an attack on the dams was not originally Barnes Wallace's idea; that there was more to Guy Gibson than a wartime tough guy, and that  bombs-away sights were homemade by the crews. However, local shots of the memorial in Woodhall Spa and other local landmarks made it more personal for us.  David remembers seeing the film of the Dambusters as soon as it came out in 1954 and has consequently never forgotten the name of Guy Gibson's dog which the Wing Commander sometimes called Nigsy. A dog could never be so called nowadays.

Martin Shaw's research and reenactment of the raid made us deeply aware of the difficulty of the undertaking and the awfulness of war as so many ordinary Germans were drowned.  The programme was thoroughly engrossing.

Unanswered, however, and still causing puzzlement, is why the Dambuster's memorial is in Woodhall Spa, Chaplin House's nearest town, yet 617 Squadron's base was at RAF Scampton?  Any answers?

OK then, for a bit of fun, a small quiz. 

1.  Why is the Dambuster's memorial in Woodhall Spa rather than at RAF Scampton?

2.  What was Guy Gibson's dog actually called (Clue above.)

3.  What was wrong with the film's portrayal of the bomb - classified information still in 1954?

4.  Name the three dams hit, two of which burst.

5.  What did the crews have for breakfast?  (Maybe an award winning, Chaplin House breakfast, would      have contribruted to the wellbeing of the Lancaster crews.)

After you've looked at our Lancaster photos, why not check out the following websites:

www.dambusters.org.uk

www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf

www.lincsaviation.co.uk

Lancaster at rest at East Kirkby

Start engines?

I don't think I'll fly today!

 

Lancaster Birthday Treat

Many Chaplin House guests have thoroughly enjoyed the Lancaster taxi run at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre at East Kirkby (www.lincsaviation.co.uk)  David has long been intrigued by their enthusiastic feedback and was rewarded with his own trip by a combined birthday and Christmas present in one wonderful package.

David enthused:  'What an aeroplane!  Gripping history, all the attention you require, good food and as near to walking in the footsteps of those World War 2 heroes, without being one  of the crew, as  you can get.

And don’t be put off by threatening weather... a spot of rain on the Perspex bubbles adds an air of authenticity.

You are given a full and extensive tour of the aircraft before you settle into your chosen spot. Mine was the bomb aimer’s location (see photos) ...  not easy to get into – though not as confined as the rear gunner’s.

Our group had a bonus aboard in the form of a real rear gunner: 31 trips and not  a scratch on him or the aircraft.  Listening to this dignified gentleman, complete with recent new hip, revealed a great deal about matter of fact bravery.

An informative and  ‘where they crawled I crawled’ experience to remember for a long time.

Gre....at!'

Chaplin House Special Offer

Book a 3 night midweek stay in August and enjoy a complimentary bottle of wine worth £10!