just thought some might find this intresting my home town is chepstow, in south wales and a little while back i bought a book titled the home front in chepstow 1939-1945.within the book is mention of bill townsend who flew o orange on the dambuster raid.bill was born in garden city in chepstow and quote in book reads bill townsend who lived in hardwick avenue, came over as well you see with a lancaster.they were the big bombers .he flew up the garden path.i wasn't here but all the ladies from the avenue were waving . they knew who it was of course, including his mother and sister.there are other stories of intrest but as they say is another story.

A print of 'O-for-Orange' signed by Bill Townsend is a treasured possession of mine. He was a true little-known hero of the raid ; he brought his crew safely home by a feat of superb low-level flying and thoroughly deserved his rare CGM.

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

martin i was wondering what book on the dambusters would you recomend that gives an all round description of the raid and everybody who took part

I'd still recommend John Sweetman's 'The Dambusters Raid' as the best-researched and most complete story, it's also been through many editions so is easy to find.

Best of the 'picture books' is Jonathan Falconer's very impressive 'The Dam Busters' (Sutton Publishing, 2003 ).

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

thanks martin spot on will look to get these soon i always enjoyed the film but never really got intrested in military aviation much but the bill townsend story i quoted kind of peaked an intrest in it.and besides we all read biggles as a boy!