Flight Lieutenant was just 21 as he began his attack on the Mohner Dam on May 16, 1943. , following his Squadron Leader Guy Gibson. His Lancaster bomber had already lost one engine and came under intense fire as it raced towards the dam, losing a second engine. The bouncing bomb was released a fraction too late and bounced over the dam destroying a power station. One of his wings was now fully alight, and Flt/Lt Hopgood, sixth from left, pulled back on his control stick and opened the two remaining throttles in an attempt to gain altitude to allow his crew to escape. Now his incredible tale of bravery has been told in a book by his niece Jenny Elmes.
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