article_snippet: A flypast of five Tornados in a ‘V’ formation was provided, and a Lancaster dropped thousands of poppies over Green Park.
article_snippet: Les Munro piloted one of 19 Lancaster bombers on the Second World War raid to bomb a series of dams in the industrial heartland of Germany. 
article_snippet: The mission resulted in eight of the planes being shot down and 53 crew out of 133 killed.
article_snippet: Despite the losses, the Second World War raid was a success with two dams breached by the ingenious bouncing bombs, wiping out scores of armament factories in the Ruhr Valley.
article_snippet: a Lancaster was struck by an anti-aircraft flak shell on the Second World War raid, knocking a gaping hole in the fuselage and putting all communications out of use, forcing 53 crew out of 133 killed to turn back still carrying an anti-aircraft flak shell on the raid over Holland mine.
article_snippet: a Lancaster was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for the raid and other sorties.
article_snippet: Guy Gibson, who led The mission, received the Victoria Cross.
article_snippet: As well as Les Munro efforts in the Dambusters raid, Les Munro also led successful raids to wipe out E-boat and U-boat pens in Le Havre and Boulogne - missions that helped the Allied take control of Normandy and France.
article_snippet: Les Munro bombed German aircraft and armament factories, V1, V2 and V3 rocket sites and dropped aluminium strips in the English Channel to trick German radar operators into thinking the D-Day landings were taking place at Calais rather than Normandy.
article_snippet: ’ Bomber Command suffered huge losses in the Second World War, with 45 out of every 100 airmen killed.