Bidspirit auction | Benny Goodman 617 sqn Tirpitz

Benny Goodman 617 sqn Tirpitz raid signed WW2 RAF Dambusters 50th ann Cover Rare. Flown by Lancaster PA474 over the Derwent Dam, numbered on the back with flight details on cachet. Special Scampton 50th ann Dambusters Raid postmark. No. 617 Squadron was a special duties Squadron within No. 5 Group, based at Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire. Composed of experienced bomber crews, it was equipped with Barnes Wallis's 12,000 lb ”Tallboy” Deep Penetration bomb and a precision bombsight that required high flying skills and crew teamwork to achieve extreme accuracy. Goodman and his crew were part of an experiment by Air Vice-Marshal Sir Ralph Cochrane, Air Officer Commanding No. 5 Group, taking a few novice crews who were rated above average and who might quickly be able to assimilate the skills required to achieve No. 617 Squadron's high standards. His first operation with No. 617 Sqn was on 18 August 1944, against the U-boat pens at La Pallice. Flying as a second pilot with one of the squadron's veteran crews, he familiarised himself with operational procedures. His first operation with his own crew, to Brest on 27 August, began eventfully when, shortly after take-off, the wireless operator announced that his set was on fire. It was soon extinguished without significant damage and the crew continued on to their target. Goodman flew on many notable operations. While waiting to take off for the squadron's second attack against the German battleship Tirpitz (29 October 1944) his aircraft narrowly avoided being hit on the ground by another aircraft which swung severely on take-off. Returning from a deep penetration raid on the oil refinery at Politz (21/22 December 1944), Goodman alone brought his aircraft safely back to a fog-shrouded Woodhall Spa while the remainder of the squadron was forced to divert to other airfields, one of them subsequently crashing owing to poor visibility. During an operation against Hamburg (9 April 1945), the squadron was attacked by Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighters. While most of these operations were carried out using the Tallboy 12,000 lb bomb, Goodman got the opportunity to drop a 22,000 lb Grand Slam Deep Penetration bomb during an attack against the Arnsberg viaduct (19 March 1945). His bomb scored a direct hit. Good condition. Part of Single Vendor collection. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide.