From the moment his spotlights went on, Hopgood began to draw heavy and accurate fire. With his port outer engine already dead, the port inner was hit and began to burn, the flames fanning out along the wing. With the aircraft difficult to control and bomb aimer J.W. Fraser undoubtedly un-nerved by the volume of incoming flak, the Upkeep mine was released late. After three perfect bounces the mine cleared the dam wall and crashed down on the huge power station beyond. Seconds later the mine exploded reducing half the giant building to smoking rubble. Hopgoods plane disappeared down the valley trailing smoke and flames, he desperately tried to gain enough height to allow his crew to bailout. Bomb aimer F/Sgt Fraser, rear gunner P/Off Burcher and wireless operator Sgt Minchin did get out, but with their chutes barely opening in time, Fraser and Burcher landed hard but alive and would spend the rest of the war as POW’s. Minchin was less fortunate and although alive when he hit the ground he died shortly after. Realising they were now too low the remaining crew must have joined Hopgood in looking for any flat ground that would offer some slim hope of a crash landing. Three miles from the dam the tree line began to thin as they approached open farmland outside the village of Ostonnen, but just when there seemed some hope the port wing folded and the stricken plane ploughed into a field killing all still on board. Gibson was circling around again and called Mick Martin to make his run, again Gibson flew wing to draw flak and offer fire support. On his approach Martins aircraft was hit in the starboard fuel tank, fortunately it was empty, after release, his mine veered off and exploded near the banks of the reservoir. With three mines used Gibson next called Dinghy Young , Martin flew off his starboard wing and Gibson flew round to the ‘air’ side of the dam to further confuse the Germans and hopefully split their fire. Spot lights on, Young began his ‘run’…. the tactics seemed to work , with the Germans trying to shoot in all directions while trying to avoid a barrage of incoming tracer, Young was allowed a ' settled ' run. His mine was released and was seen to make three good bounces before striking the dam wall almost dead centre and sinking from view. After what seemed an eternity, the customary fountain of water errupted skywards. Young and Gibson circled as the water settled but the dam still stood. Gibson now called David Maltby in for his 'run', with Gibson and Young on his wings, he lined up on the dam, but just as bomb aimer P/O J. Fort was about to release their mine, Maltby saw the top of the dam beginning to crumble, water surging over the top.Before Maltby could call an 'abort', Fort released the mine, again three perfect bounces, impact, explosion but this time the water never settled.Two huge breaches opened in the dam, what remained of the power station was obliterated by the a wall of water crashing down.The torrent surged down the valley sweeping all before it. Gibson ordered Shannon, Maudsley and Knight,with the remaining mines, to head for the Eder Dam, Gibson and his new Deputy Young would accompany them.Martin and Maltby headed for home......