Factual error: One of the shots of individual British Lancaster bombers approaching one of the dams is actually and incorrectly an American B17, seen for only a second or two. [At no time in the film is a B17 visible in the British release of the film. However the B17 crashing appears in a version of the film released in the U.S.A.]
The Dam Busters (1955)
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Directed by: Michael Anderson
Starring: Michael Redgrave, Richard Todd, Basil Sydney, Charles Carson, Ursula Jeans
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Gibson: How many guns do you think there are, Trevor?
Trevor-Roper: I'd say there are about ten guns - some in the field, and some in the tower.
Trivia: A (corrected) entry states that a USAAF B-17 'Flying Fortress' bomber is visible in the film. In fact in some prints produced for release in the US irrelevant stock footage of a B17 was randomly cut into the film to make it more acceptable to American audiences. This was a deliberate alteration of the film done very much against the wishes of the producer and director, and it explains the 'error' - the contributor has seen one of the non-canon US prints.
Question: Isn't Gibson (Richard Todd) shown wearing a VC ribbon on his dress tunic? I thought he was awarded this for the raid itself.
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Answer: I think Gibson is shown wearing the ribbons (and rosettes) of the Distinguished Service Order and Bar and Distinguished Flying Cross. He was awarded these medals before the Dam Busters raid. In black and white, the ribbon for the VC with its miniature cross can look similar to the DSO with a rosette for a second award.