Alan Cooper writes about an operation which at the time and ever since has captured the imagination of many - the attack of the German dams in May 1943. This book presents a history of one of the most successful operations of World War II carried out by the famous 617 Squadron led by Guy Gibson. This account includes the whole lead-up to the final mission, the development of the bouncing bomb, the forming of 617 Squadron and the intense course of training carried out to make the operation a success. The raid itself is viewed from both British and German camps; many of the aircrew who took part in 617 operations give their accounts, as do several Germans, including Albert Speer, the German armaments minister.