In May 1943 a squadron of men from the Royal Air Force prepared to fly on a secret mission to destroy Germany's industrial economy, a mission that would insure them a place in the history books, but also a sortie from which many would never return.

The hand picked men of 617 Squadron, led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, would practice their low level raids at Reculver near Herne Bay, an isolated stretch of the Kent Coast, a secret from the rest of the world.

360-degree views of Reculver Fort

Except that is for two local teenage boys who watched the tests being conducted, as they hid amongst the grass on a cliff top over looking the drop zone.

They watched as Lancasters flew past the medieval twin towers of Reculver and dropped a new weapon, never seen before, a weapon in the shape of a depth charge that would be nick named the 'Bouncing Bomb'.

60th anniversary, 17th May 2003 A Lancaster was joined by Spitfire and Hurricane fighter planes and a modern Tornado GR4 jet, at Reculver, near Herne Bay, where the bouncing bomb was secretly tested in 1943. Anniversary tribute to Dambusters >> From BBC News

Christopher Wallis watches the fly-past in his father's honour

Kent witnesses
Hear the voices of Kent men who watched with their own eyes the tests at Reculver, loaded the 'bouncing bombs', maintained the Lancaster's, knew and flew with Wing Commander Guy Gibson and played their part in history.

Ken Sandwell has lived in Margate all his life, but during the war was initially posted to the RAF base at Boston in Lincolnshire.

Fred Rumbold : As a young man Fred, who now lives in Canterbury, was a local lad in Herne Bay who, together with his friend Derek, watched as the 'bouncing bombs' were tested at Reculver.

Listen to BBC Radio Kent's 'Flight of the Dambusters' documentary, produced by Dominic King