John Hopgood’s aircraft had been caught in searchlights and been hit by gunfire crossing Holland. Although Hopgood, along with others on board, had been injured he pressed on to the target. He was the second aircraft to attack the Mohne Dam and he faced a terrific barrage of gunfire from the defences. Just as he released his bomb, his aircraft was badly hit and the inner port engine set ablaze. The port outer was already dead, and his aircraft, unable to climb above its height of 300 feet, was doomed. He ordered his crew to bale out. Hopgood’s bomb bounced right over the dam wall and exploded on the power station below, completely destroying it. Hopgood’s aircraft crashed and exploded into flames a few miles past the dam and all those remaining on board were lost. It was these events 
which had caused the orange glow ahead of Mick Martin. Moving as the story was, it was a simple reality that, as Mick Martin flew in to make the third attack on the Mohne Dam, there was ahead of him all the light that any artist would need to depict that dramatic scene.
In the painting, Mick Martin’s Lancaster is seen flying into the attack. The ‘figure eight’ patch of light shows clearly on the water below that he is flying at the optimum height and he has just released his bomb. Gibson’s Lancaster can be seen above and to starboard, with all lights on, drawing enemy fire. Mick Martin made a direct hit on the dam.
‘The Dambusters’ -
