Dambusters squadron to ‘fly’ through East Lancashire

Brave airmen from the RAF 617 squadron, made famous by its daring wartime bombing raids on Germany, will pass through Padiham and Colne today as part of a gruelling charity challenge.

The legendary unit is taking on the heroic task of running 700 miles in seven days to raise money for the Leonard Cheshire Disability – whose founder was commander of 617 squadron.

The “Dambusters Run” follows key landmarks of the squad’s illustrious history and started at

at the very first Cheshire home in Hampshire and ends at the Dambusters’ home at RAF Lossiemouth near Inverness.

Airmen will run through Altham, Padiham, Higham, Fence and Colne along the A6068 Barrowford Road this afternoon as part of a 104-mile leg of the route between Glossop and RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.

It will be a great opportunity for people in East Lancashire to come out, cheer on and sponsor the Dambusters as they pass through.

The mammoth week-long run will take place before the squad fly out to Afghanistan for the last ever tour of duty.

Dambusters’ Squadron Leader, Mark Jackson, said: “Embarking on a physically gruelling race isn’t normally the first thing on the agenda following weeks of intensive military training to prepare for deployment, but disability is a cause close to anyone who has toured Afghanistan. Leonard Cheshire was a commander of our squadron during World War Two who opened his home to disabled veterans following the war.

“Our guys have seen how the charity supports disabled people today and were moved beyond words. There is no more fitting tribute than to use our strength in the Dambusters Run to repay this.”