Thenightof16May,1943.NineteenspeciallyadaptedLancasterbomberstakeofffromRAFScamptoninLincolnshire,eachwithahuge9000lbcylindricalbombstrappedunderneathit.Theirmission:todestroythreedamsdeepwithintheGermanheartland,whichprovidethelifebloodtotheindustriessupplyingtheThirdReich'swarmachine.Fromtheoutsetitwasanalmostimpossibletask,asuicidemission:toflylowandatnightinformationovermanymilesofenemy-occupiedterritoryattheverylimitoftheLancasters'capacity,anddropanewweaponthathadneverbeentriedoperationallybeforefromapreciseheightofjustsixtyfeetfromthewateratsomeofthemostheavilydefendedtargetsinGermany.Morethanthat,theentireoperationhadtobeputtogetherinlessthantenweeks.WhenvisionaryaviationengineerBarnesWallis'sconceptofthebouncingbombwasgreenlighted,hehadn'tevendrawnuphisplansfortheweaponthatwastosmashthedams.Whatfollowedwasanincredibleraceagainsttime,which,despitenumeroussetbacksandagainsthugeodds,becameoneofthemostsuccessfulandgame-changingbombingraidsofalltime.