The High Peak Dambuster: Talk by Frank Pleszak
Rems Cafe Bar & Restaurant, High Peak, SK23 0HP
Tuesday 7th April 2026
A chance discussion with my neighbour turned into an incredible journey of discovery into what really happened during the most famous of all wartime stories – The Dambusters. Norma’s uncle, Jack Marriott was one of the Dambusters, a Flight Engineer, who was sadly, but mysteriously killed on his way home from the Dams.
Even though everybody has heard of the Dambusters in reality most people know very little. What is generally known is based on the 1955 film. As good as it is, it has lots of inaccuracies, and at the time it was made some of the details of the raid were still subject to the official secrets act.
In the film Jack’s Lancaster was shown crashing near to the Eder Dam, but in reality, it had dropped its ‘Bouncing Bomb’ and managed to fly part of the way home before being shot down as it approached the Dutch border. Jack’s wingman who was tragically killed on the outbound journey Bill Astell lived just a few miles away in Chapel-en-le-Frith.
My research into the Dambusters story led to discussions with some of the leading experts on the subject and I describe Jack’s life and the true details of what happened that night on the 16/17 May 1943 when he, and 52 of his fellow airmen lost their lives. Jack’s story though didn’t end that night and it continues right up to the present day.
Our guest Speaker, FRANK PLESZAK is formerly a WHO tropical pest control expert and latterly an IT consultant. He is a beekeeper, author, and blogger specialising in Polish history, aviation, and the local history around his home in the foothills of the Peak District near Manchester. Among many other roles, he helped in the preparation of the Dambusters 80th anniversary exhibition in 2023.
Even though everybody has heard of the Dambusters in reality most people know very little. What is generally known is based on the 1955 film. As good as it is, it has lots of inaccuracies, and at the time it was made some of the details of the raid were still subject to the official secrets act.
In the film Jack’s Lancaster was shown crashing near to the Eder Dam, but in reality, it had dropped its ‘Bouncing Bomb’ and managed to fly part of the way home before being shot down as it approached the Dutch border. Jack’s wingman who was tragically killed on the outbound journey Bill Astell lived just a few miles away in Chapel-en-le-Frith.
My research into the Dambusters story led to discussions with some of the leading experts on the subject and I describe Jack’s life and the true details of what happened that night on the 16/17 May 1943 when he, and 52 of his fellow airmen lost their lives. Jack’s story though didn’t end that night and it continues right up to the present day.
Our guest Speaker, FRANK PLESZAK is formerly a WHO tropical pest control expert and latterly an IT consultant. He is a beekeeper, author, and blogger specialising in Polish history, aviation, and the local history around his home in the foothills of the Peak District near Manchester. Among many other roles, he helped in the preparation of the Dambusters 80th anniversary exhibition in 2023.
