The Dam Busters (radio serial)

The Dam Busters
Genredrama serial
Running time30 mins
Country of originAustralia
Language(s)English
Written byMorris West
Produced byGordon Glenwright
Narrated byPaul Brickhill
Recording studioSydney
Original release1 June 1954
No. of series1
No. of episodes26

The Dam Busters is a 1954 Australian radio serial written by Morris West and produced by Gordon Grimsdale. [1]

It was based on the book The Dam Busters by Paul Brickhill. West and Grimsdale also did radio adaptations of Brickhill's books The Great Escape and Reach for the Sky.[2][3] West wrote these after relocating to Sydney from Melbourne following the end of his first marriage.[4]

A number of the cast had served in the airforce during World War Two.[5]

The Sydney Daily Telegraph said "The wonder of this programme lies in the consistently true characterisation given by each performer."[6]

Cast

  • Charles Tingwell as Guy Gibson
  • Allan Trevor
  • Coralie Neville
  • David Eadie as Vice-Marshal Cochrane
  • Max Osbiston as Mick Martin
  • Alexander Archdale
  • Rodney Taylor as an Australian pilot
  • Mary Jane Winsor

References

  1. ^ "An original note in new radio series". The Sun. No. 13, 819. New South Wales, Australia. 28 May 1954. p. 17 (LATE FIN AL EXTRA). Retrieved 13 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "'Dam Busters' From 5 AD tomorrow". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. 96, no. 29, 794. South Australia. 10 April 1954. p. 4. Retrieved 13 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "The Radar Story From 5AD". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. 97, no. 29, 916. South Australia. 1 September 1954. p. 19. Retrieved 13 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ Philp, Peter (2016). Drama in Silent Rooms: A History of Radio Drama in Australia from 1920s to 1970s. Eureka. p. 402-403.
  5. ^ "GEORGE HART'S Radio Round- up". The Sun. No. 13, 813. New South Wales, Australia. 21 May 1954. p. 15 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 14 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "AROUND THE DIAL". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. XIX, no. 87. New South Wales, Australia. 1 July 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 14 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.