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They were there to mark the anniversary of one of the most  remarkable exploits of the second World War.

Sixty five years ago  this weekend Wing Commander Guy Gibson led 19 Lancasters from 617 Squadron on a precision attack deep in the heart of enemy Germany.

Their target was the Mohne and Eder dams that provided vital power for industry in the Rhur. Against tremendous odds 617 Squadron got through and flying dangerously low over the target dropped a number of 'bouncing bombs' that skipped over the water and breached both dams.

It was a tremendous morale boosting victory for the RAF but eight of the aircraft and 53 crew failed to return.        

On Friday the last Lancaster flew over the route the Dambusters used to practice their attack.

The RAF men had to learn to fly their Lancasters at a hazardous  60ft above the water if the  6,000lb spinning bomb invented by Dr Barnes Wallis was to have any chance of bouncing along the surface of the lake - over torpedo netting  - and into the dam wall, without breaking up.

The Derwent Dam was chosen by Guy Gibson for training because it most closely resembled the Mohne Dam in the Ruhr. On the night training began on March 28th, 1943 Gibson nearly crashed into the waters of the dam in the dusk as he misjudged his height over the surface.      

The last surviving Dambuster pilot, Squadron Leader Les Munro who won the  DSO, DFCfor bravery, flew in from New Zealand and was given a helicopter ride over the Dam where in 1943 he had constantly practiced flying down the valley.

As he walked among crowds on the dam wall he was clapped and cheered "I remember as we practiced in 1943 seeing a golf course on top of the hills above the Derwent Dam and wondered as we went round again and again what affect it was having on the golfers' game", he said.       

But while we can recall the courage of the Dambusters  of 617 Squadron with pride an important battle still remains to be fought.

During  the war 55,500 men of Bomber Command were killed --  the highest loss of any arm of service during the  conflict. Yet despite the extraordinary courage and sacrifice made by these brave young men , Bomber Command has never been given a campaign medal.

The aircrew, most of them teenagers or in their early 20s, were denied official recognition by the new Labour Government in 1945 in the soul-searching following the Dresden raid.       

Many of the men who survived are now in their eighties and  it has been a bitter insult to them and their families that the country they gave so much for have for so long failed to honour their achievement.

It has been estimated that up to 30,000 Bomber Command veterans are still eligible for a medal.  So far a group of 141 backbench MPs have signed an early Day Motion to try to force the Government to do the honourable thing and give the men the medal they deserve.

But we can't leave it to MPs alone to  put this long standing grievance right.

If someone in your family served with Bomber Command or you feel its high time Britain acknowledged the debt we owe them, then write to us.

Send your NAME, ADDRESS, and E-MAIL ADDRESS to:

Bomber Boys Crusade

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The Sunday Express

The Northern & Shell Building

10 Lower Thames Street

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EC3R 6EN

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e-mail us your details and support to: web.help@express.co.uk.

In the coming weeks we plan to collect as many signed gestures of support as we can for delivery to No 10. Join our Crusade, and help us back the Bomber Boys.