A well-thumbed map used in the legendary Dambusters raid – the most famous bombing mission of all time – goes under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers’ militaria sale this week <nov 12>.
Expected to make up to £1,000, it comes the collection of retired aviation engineer and WWII expert, David Lilley, who turned his West Sussex home into a Bomber Command museum.
David caught the aviation bug during a stint in the ATC and subsequently embarked on a 50-year career as an aviation engineer.
It was here the now 85-year-old befriended a number of 617 Squadron and other Bomber Command squadron heroes, many of whom took up roles in civil aviation after the war.
While it isn’t known how the map – detailing the famous bombing of the Möhne dam – was acquired, David’s connection to the “ex-bomber boys” may have been a factor.
His son Iain, who lives in Crawley, said: “Dad loved Lancaster bombers, and the house he retired to became a shrine to aviation. Through his work he became friends with a number of 617 Squadron pilots. As a child I remember a lot of the pilots popping in.”
The map, one of four Bomber Command maps up for sale, would have been issued to the bomb aimers and used on operations to identify the exact target.
One of the frequent visitors to the house cum museum in Storrington was Wing Commander John Bell, who also lived in the small Horsham town, and served as a bomb aimer in 617 Squadron. Bell, who died last year aged 100 was the last surviving airman to have flown with the squadron.
The 2,000ft-long (650m) barrier on the river Möhne was the first of the three Ruhr Valley dams to be bombed in the raid known as Operation Chastise.
Just after midnight on May 17, 1943, Wing Commander Guy Gibson dropped the first of Barnes Wallis’ famous “bouncing bombs” on the dam which was later breached.
The map outlines the area to be targeted with bearings and magnetic compass readings, along with information regarding altitude and grid coordinates.
It is printed in 1:63,360 scale, using black ink, a pink overprint shows the drop site. An embroidered badge for the famous squadron is shown below the map.
Three dams were targeted in all, while the Möhne and Ederseewere breached, the Sorpesuffered only negligible damage.
Iain Lilley, 62, continued: “It was amazing Wing Commander John Bell also lived in the same village as dad. He was the most amazing man. Like all the pilots I got to know he was reluctant to talk about his war record.
“They were all incredibly humble. What they did was incredible, but they just thought it was all in a day’s work. It was heroic but none of them bragged. If you didn’t ask them about Bomber Command, they wouldn’t speak of it.
“Dad started as an apprentice fitter on the Avro York. The York had the same wing, engines and tail as the Lancaster, so the ex-bomber boys were at home flying it.”
The roll call of visitors to his Storrington home, a shrine to the Lancaster bomber, included some of the most distinguished names in WWII aviation history.
Other visitors to the house included Flight Lieutenant Bob Knights, another member of 617 Squadron, who flew on several major attacks, including the sinking of the German battleship the Tirpitz, off the Norwegian coast in November 1944.
Knights, who was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) died on December 4, 2004.
Another visitor was Captain Paddy Gingles, who also flew on the mission to sink the Tirpitz. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) before retiring to the Algarve where he died in 1988.
Hansons militaria expert, Matt Crowson, said: “In terms of provenance and WWII interest it is difficult to imagine anything better than a map used on the legendary Dambusters raid. To know that it came from the collection of such a dedicated devotee of Bomber Commander in particular and Lancaster bombers in general makes it all the more special.”
Iain, who followed in his father’s aviation footsteps, spent 25 years as a supplies manager for a cargo airline at Gatwick. He said: “I remember my mum organising a trip to Canada, arranging for dad to fly in a Lancaster bomber for an hour. Afterwards he said if he had the choice between winning the lottery and flying on the Lancaster again, he’d choose the Lancaster.”
Until recently many of David Lilley’s treasures had been on show at the Scampton Heritage Centre on the RAF site in Lincolnshire the one-time home of 617 Squadron.
But with its closure Iain is keen to find new homes for the historically important archive.
He said: “Bits and pieces have found new owners over the years, and we will hold on to items that mean the most to us, but the time is right to sell.
“These maps played such a role in the Allied victory, it’s only right that they should either be on public show, or go to a collector to be fully appreciated.”
The other three Bomber Command maps also going under the hammer detail the bombing raids on Peenemünde Army Research in 1943, the bombing of U-boat pens in Bergen and the railway viaduct at Arnsberg.
Auction Details
Auction: Derby November Medals, Militaria & Firearms Auction
Auction date: 12th November 2025 | 9:30am
Location: Hansons Derbyshire Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
