The Dam Busters

[DaisyNonna]

Knew I should not have watched it again. Ended up in floods of tears.
Anyone else affected by it?

[Unsureme]

No,Why would you cry?

[jno]

was one of the members of your family a dam?

[jeffa]

Joking [sic] aside, DN, I've never considered The Dam Busters as a weepie...

[Unsureme]

jno,behave.!!

[jno]

could be, watching the dam burst I'm more likely to rush to the loo

[DaisyNonna]

No, but the father in law I never met was a wireless operator and rear gunner shot down over Belgium aged 21 not knowing that his wife was expecting a baby who grew up to be my husband. My daughter now has the letter announcing the news of the forthcoming event which was returned to my mother in law, unopened with the rest of his effects.

[jno]

ahh, that's sad. But as someone else suggested I don't the film's what you would normally call a weepie for those without personal connections.

[mrsmaveric]

well its not a weepie film is it??? but i can see why daisy is a bit emotional about the events portrayed in the film..

[paddywak]

I know what you mean Daisy, while it doesn't make me weep the scenes when they're making the bomb runs over the dams always brings a lump to my throat.

[ChillDoubt]

What a sad story about your f-i-l DaisyNonna, a very brave man.
I used to be based near the Mohne Dam and on quiet nights when on patrol would take a run down to the dam and walk to the middle of it. One could imagine the Lancaster's as they made their passes, marvelling at the bravery to hold their flight path as withering AA fire was concentrated at them.
And yes, the film evokes emotion for many. Even Barnes Wallis himelf was left devastated by the amount of Allied airmen who were lost during the raids on the 3 dams.

[Slapshot]

From your perspective DN I can understand your emotional response. While based in Germany we spent a long weekend at the Mohne and I sat on the dam at night trying to imagine what happened, I couldn't but I could understand why so many aircrew died after visiting the other two dams. High risk missions can change the course of a conflict but the cost can be high