The Avro Lancaster was the most famous heavy bomber of the RAF during World War II and was introduced into service in 1942. More than 7,300 aircraft were built for the Royal Air Force Bomber Command. One of the RAF's main objectives was to destroy the dams of the Ruhr area, which supplied power to important industrial facilities. To effectively target resilient objectives like dams, a bouncing bomb was developed, known as the Bouncing Bomb. A new unit, the 617 Squadron, was specifically formed for this attack, under the command of Wing Commander Guy Gibson. This attack, codenamed Operation Chastise, took place on the night of May 16 to 17, 1943, with 19 Lancaster bombers. The first two dams, Möhne and Eder, were successfully destroyed, while the other two, Ennepe and Sorpe, withstood the attack.

Fuselage mid-section to accommodate the special bomb. Detailed bouncing bomb with suspension. Detailed surfaces with recessed panel joints. Detailed cockpit with instrument panel and side panels. Navigator and radio operator compartment. Two rotating MG turrets. Canopy glazing with various mounting configurations. Detailed Merlin engine. Main landing gear bay with separate side struts. Detailed main landing gear. Movable propellers. Two different propeller blades. Decal with an RAF version: Avro Lancaster B.Mk.III (Special) No.617 Squadron, Royal Air Force, May 1943.