The thunderous roar of a military plane used in one of Britain's most daring war time raids had eyes glued to the skies on Friday.

More than 500 people turned out to the Hendon RAF Museum to catch a glimpse of a solo flight by a Lancaster Bomber involved in the Dambusters raids - which took place 70 years ago.

The Lancaster was used by the RAF’s 617 squadron in the now infamous raids on the German Mohne and Eder Dams in the early hours of May 17, 1943.

Specially developed ‘bouncing bombs’ were used to destroy the dams and flood industrialised areas of the Ruhr valley.

Of 133 men that set out on the mission, only 77 returned, and the dangerous mission has become one of Britain’s iconic war time successes.

Hundreds of excited enthusiasts and families arched their necks to watch as the Lancaster flew over the Grahame Park Way museum at 3.15pm on Friday.

Paul Hudson, head of marketing, said: “It is an occasion that happens, if we’re lucky, just twice a year.

“It was absolutely amazing – we had people tweeting from the ground about how it made the hairs on the back of their necks stand on end as the roar of the engine could be heard before it came in to sight. It is an occasion they will never forget.”