TO celebrate the 75th anniversary of the famous Second World War Dambuster raid, a Minehead artist has stepped in to raise money for the organisation which keeps alive the history of the famous squadron.

Artist Mike Fuller has produced two limited edition prints and for every one sold a donation will be made to the 617 Squadron Association. The squadron has recently reformed and will provide F35 jets to Britain's latest aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Mr Fuller said:“ For many years I was an aircraft illustrator with BAC at Brooklands and used to walk by replicas of the grand slam and tall boy bombs that 617 squadron used on their famous raids."

Since moving to Somerset Mike has turned his technical illustrator skills into producing highly detailed prints of famous aircraft, ships and motor cars.

"I am particularly proud that I have been given to opportunity to produce prints of Johnny Johnson’s Aircraft T-Tommy which was involved in the famous raid, and he has even signed a few which we will be offering over the next few weeks."

The second print that Mike has produced is of Laurence (Benny) Goodman’s Lancaster, which attacked the Arnsberg viaduct on March 19, 1945.

"Benny has signed this print, so to have two famous veterans endorsing my work is fantastic," Mr Fuller said.

The chairman of 617 Squadron Association, Wg Cdr Andy Walters MBE said: “Mike has provided two stunning prints of these two aircraft which were shown to the veterans at our anniversary dinner at Woodhall Spa on Saturday and they were both delighted.

"The accuracy is truly amazing and I am sure that they will become collector’s items."

The artist-signed prints which are limited to 1,000 of each and include the association's 'dams' logo can be obtained directly from Mike, with money from each being donated to 617 Squadron Association.

A4 prints are selling for £25 plus posting and packing and A3 for £35.

A spokesman for the 617 Squadron Association said details of this very limited edition of prints signed by both Mike and the pilots will be announced shortly.

The Dambusters raid was an attack on German dams carried out in May, 1945 by Royal Air Force 617 Squadron using a purpose built 'bouncing bomb' developed by Barnes Wallis.

The Möhne and Edersee Dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley and of villages in the Eder valley.

Two hydroelectric power stations were destroyed and several more damaged. Factories and mines were also damaged and destroyed.

An estimated 1,600 civilians, about 600 Germans and 1,000 mainly Soviet forced labourers died.

Despite rapid repairs by the Germans, production did not return to normal until September.