A new film featuring George “Johnny” Johnson’s Dambuster crew has recently made its UK film premiere, in the run up to the 80th anniversary of the Dams Raid this week. The film is now on a UK tour and venues can be found on the film’s website attackonsorpedam.com The site also has trailers and further information.
The Attack on Sorpe Dam film follows the story of Johnson, the bomb aimer in the crew piloted by Flt Lt Joe McCarthy. In March 1943, after a tour of operations in 97 Squadron, they joined a newly formed squadron for a top secret, special operation that had the potential to shorten the war in Europe. Johnny describes the dangerous low flying training, the events leading up to the operational briefing on 16 May 1943 and then the attack on the Sorpe dam and the aftermath of the Dambusters operation.
The film has been directed by Andrew Panton, who commented: ‘For people who are looking for a historically accurate first-hand account, of what it was like to be a part of one of the most famous RAF’s bombing operations of World War 2, the Dambusters raid, this film is for them.’
Future showings are:
May 16 and 17 – Lincolnshire Premiere, Kinema in the Woods, Woodhall Spa
May 18 – Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby
May 20 – Duxford Air Museum
May 22 – Bath Forum
June 11 – Poynton Club Cheshire
June 18 – Stratford Manor Hotel
July 22 – Brooklands Museum
July 29 – Boscombe Down Aviation Collection Museum near Salisbury.
Further dates will follow. Check the film website.