HUNDREDS of people gathered on the banks of the Derwent Dam this morning to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Dambusters raids with a spectacular flypast.
Crowds were treated to an exceptional aviation display featuring the last surviving Lancaster bomber in Britain, flying at 100ft above the water through the dam towers.
Two Tornadoes from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight accompanied the Lancaster on its third run past, followed by a pair of Spitfires which circled the hills around the Derwent Valley.
A Dakota finished the proceedings - flying so low that onlookers could wave to crew on board.
A memorial service with prayers and a wreath laying ceremony for the 53 men who lost their lives in the raids in May 1943 was also held before the flypast at 10.30am.
The last surviving pilot from the operation Les Monroe had flown in from New Zealand for the occasion, and Richard Todd, who played wing commander Guy Gibson in the famous film, was also there.
Members of the public who wanted to attend had to apply for one of the 400 tickets available by a ballot, with those who were unsuccessful given the opportunity to watch the aircraft fly over Chatsworth after the dam.
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