Two former regional press journalists have recalled the day more than 35 years ago when they helped the Dambusters return to Derbyshire’s Peak District.

Photographer David Green and Reporter Philip Lyon were working for the Halifax Courier when they decided to try to recreate the Lancaster Bomber pilots’ wartime training exploits over  the Derwent and Ladybower dams.

They wrote to the RAF to suggest the idea and despite initial scepticism eventually obtained approval.

The historic flypast took place on 16 May 1977 and has since been repeated twice – once on the 50th anniversary of the Dambuster raids in 1993 and again on the 70th anniversary earlier this month.

David, who has since retired to Lincolnshire, recalled the event in an interview with the Lincolnshire Echo.

“Philip and I were both aviation enthusiasts and working for the Halifax Courier.  We had covered a lot of aviation stories, from the arrival of the Lancaster at the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, to Concorde,” he said.

“And, in 1976, one of the those conversations was, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if we could get the RAF to fly the Lancaster over the Derwent Reservoir again?’.

“The idea came about as a close friend of mine used to live in a house overlooking the reservoir during the war and he witnessed Guy Gibson and the rest of the crews practising over it.”

The pair got in touch with RAF Strike Command and after an initially non-committal response, they finally gave the thumbs up.

On the day itself, David boarded the support aircraft which would follow the Lancaster and Philip headed to the reservoir to watch the action.

Said David:  “It was very emotional for me.  During this period not much was said about what the Dambusters had achieved. So, to see that many people turn out and see that enthusiasm for it made both Philip and myself very proud.”

“When I look back on it, I just marvel at it.  We were just two hacks who had an idea and that came together.”

Added Philip:  “The noise of four Rolls Royce Merlins powering along is up there for me,” said Mr Lyons. “To see it pass over the dam was extra special. It was what boyhood  dreams are made of.”

“What was achieved on the raid is amazing, to see a little bit of that again is very special.”