The Dam Busters (1955)

Derek Farr: Group Captain J. N. H. Whitworth, D.S.O., D.F.C.

Photos 

Quotes 

• [Whitworth is helping Gibson select pilots for the new squadron] 

  Group Capt. Whitworth : I'd go for these two Australians if I were you; Les Knight and Micky Martin. Martin knows pretty well all there is to know about low flying.

  Gibson : Yes, I met him when he was collecting his DFC. I know this New Zealander, Les Munro, I'd like to have him. Oh and Joe McCarthy, he's great.

  Group Capt. Whitworth : [laughs]  Oh, the American. The Glorious Blonde. He used to be a Coney Island beachguard. We mustn't forget the English.

  [leads Gibson to another personnel book of pilots] 

  Group Capt. Whitworth : Here's Bill Astell. Oh yes, David Maltby.

  [skips over one pilot] 

  Group Capt. Whitworth : Oh, uh, he's just started another tour.

  Gibson : [points to a picture in the book]  And Hoppy Hopgood from my old squadron. I'd like to have Dave Shannon and Burpee from there too.

  Group Capt. Whitworth : Well, we shan't be popular with the other squadron commanders if we start squeezing chaps like these from them.

• Gibson : Sir, have a drink to celebrate. We've done the trick!

  Group Capt. Whitworth : What trick?

  Gibson : Flying at 150 feet. No need for altimeters. No need for anything else.

  Group Capt. Whitworth : Well, how's that?

  Gibson : Why, SIMPLE! A couple of spotlamps. One in the nose and the other in the belly. Trained to shine down and meet together at 150 feet below the aircraft.

  Flight Lt. J.V. Hopgood, DFC : All you've got to do is watch through the cockpit blister and keep the two spots plumb together on the ground, or the water, and there you are at 150 feet. Accurate to an inch!

  Group Capt. Whitworth : Yeah, but that would mean carrying lights right into the attack!

  Flight Lt. H.B. Martin, DSO, DFC, AFC : Well, that's better than finishing up in the drink.

  Group Capt. Whitworth : That's wonderful! How did you think of it?

  Gibson : Oh genius, pure genius. We gave the idea to Farnborough and they did the rest.

  Flight Lt. D.J. Shannon, DSO, DFC : Still need a bombsight that'll work at low level.

  Flight Lt. D.J.H. Maltby, DSO, DFC : And when are we going to get the real bombs.

  Gibson : [Takes Whitworth aside]  You know it's getting on these fellows' nerves not knowing a damn thing about anything.

  Group Capt. Whitworth : I know. But the old boy's got new trials on Friday. You ought to go down again. He's pretty sure it'll work this time.