No 617's 'C' Flight was detached and sent to RAF Mildenhall along with their B1 Specials, to be absorbed into No 15 squadron. 'A' and 'B' Flight began training, flying long range navigational exercises around the UK, with flights often lasting 10 or more hours to replicate what they would encounter in the Far East. At the same time the unit began to take delivery of new Lancasters. Designated B VII (FE) for Far East. These were adapted to better deal with operations in extreme heat and over long distances. They featured further upgraded Merlin engines, a Martin Electric mid upper turret, and Frazer-Nash rear turret, both equipped with a pair of more potent Browning 50 cal. machine guns. There was also a new paint scheme of white upper over black underside as well as the new squadron code KC. Tiger Force received orders to deploy, No 9 Sq would fly to Burma and No 617 Sq to the island of Okinawa. Their objective was to bomb bridges connecting Kyushu with the Japanese mainland, preventing enemy reinforcements from occupying this area when American forces invaded. However before any aircraft left Britain, news came on August 6th of the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. This was followed three days later by a similar attack on Nagasaki. This brought about the formal surrender of Japan on August 15th, VJ Day, World War 2 was finally over. The need for Tiger Force was gone and it was cancelled on September 2nd 1945. As Christmas approached, India moved towards independence and with fears of civil unrest, six 617 Lancasters deployed to Digri. However after a near incident free transition they returned to Britain in April 1946. Since June 1945 the RAF had been engaged in Operation 'Wastage', this saw tens of thousands of tons of surplus bombs flown miles offshore and dumped. There remained at RAF Scampton a huge stockpile of Upkeep mines, an inspection in early 1946 revealed the casings were beginning to corrode and the contents were leaking. With no other way to dispose of them, three Type 464 P Lancasters were ordered to be made ready at Lossiemouth. It would be May before 3 Dams veterans, ED-932 formally flown by Gibson, ED-909 formally flown by Mick Martin and ED-906 formally flown by Dave Maltby, would begin to be made ready. It would be August before they arrived at Scampton. Crews for the aircraft were not a problem however finding armourers familiar with Upkeep was no easy task, as most had left the service. Codenamed Operation Guzzle, the first flight was made on August 22nd with Flt Lt Steve Nunns of 617 Sq at the controls.The Upkeeps were dropped from 10,000 feet, without spinning and minus any fuses.Despite this crews reported a large number detonated on impact with the sea.While Guzzle continued the remaining Type 464 P's were struck off charge at Lossiemouth, they were then broken up and hauled away for scrap. The last Upkeep was dropped on December 21st 1946 and the three remaining Lancasters were allocated to the Scampton Station Flight and re-coded YF - A, B and C. They remained operational until July 1947, when they too were SOC. Their Upkeep equipment was removed and on the same hard standings where it all began, the last of the Legendary Dambusters were broken up and scrapped. Post war, No 617 Sq would win further honours during the unrest in Malaya in 1955, and in Iraq in 1991 and 2003. Today, stationed at RAF Lossiemouth they fly the Tornado GR4 in the air interdiction, close air support and ground attack role, but for how long ? Feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes