Warbird Information Exchange

A DAMBUSTER bouncing 'bomb' has been unearthed on a Kent beach after it was discovered by a father and son where test runs were carried out by Guy Gibson and his 617 squadron crews. Barnes Wallis' Upkeep Bouncing Bomb Recovered from Reculver Bay dropped by 617 Squadron Royal Air Force. Dambusters expert confirms object found on Reculver beach was used before raid. Reculver Beach was used by the crews of 617 Squadron for low-level test drops of the bombs, including a full scale dress rehearsal on Friday 14 May 1943.

A few article and history links below:

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/herne-bay/ ... rs-187746/
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6981140/d ... ent-beach/
https://www.manstonhistory.org.uk/dambu ... d-manston/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Chastise


Bomb found




Barnes Wallis original sketch




Memo from Bomber Harris concerning bouncing bomb tests.




Petwood Hotel
https://www.petwood.co.uk/about/history


Lancasters of 617 Squadron




It is reported that on 14 May 1943 Abberton Reservoir was used by the RAF to practice low-level flying for the raids.


Ladybower Reservoir flyover more recently.


The dambusters. Amazing hero's all.


Wg Cdr Guy Gibson awarded V C for Dambusters raid.


A group of members of the R.C.A.F. who took part in the dam busting operation.










Edersee Dam before the successful raid by the Royal Air Force during World War II


Edersee dam after it was breached by the ingenious bouncing bomb, designed by Barnes Wallis, causing catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley in May 1943.


Edersee Dam.....Waldeck Castle


Edersee Dam Hessen Germany


Edersee Dam Hessen Germany


The Mohne Dam, above, was in the industrial heart of Germany and was a prime target for the RAF during WWII.


The Möhne reservoir was breached by RAF Lancaster Bombers during Operation Chastise.


Mohne Dam


The Sorpe dam, only sustained minor damage. It was one of six targeted by the RAF and is located nine miles south west of the Mohne.


Sorpe Dam after attack.


Sorpe Dam


Dambuster Memorial Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire UK

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Zero Surprise!!...

Quite the beach find. Great grouping of photos, diagrams and paintings.

I love Harris' letter.

Tried transcribing it and there are a couple words I can't guess at. Can anyone fill them in for me?
------

This is tripe of the wildest _____. There are so may ifs + ands that there is not the smallest chance of it working. To begin with the bomb would have to be perfectly balanced round it's axis. Otherwise rotation at 500 RPM would wreck the aircraft or tear the bomb loose. I don't believe a word of it's supposed ballistics on the surface.

It would be much easier to design a "scow" bomb to run on the surface, ____ it's nose on contact, sink + explode. This bomb would of course be heavier than water + exactly fit existing bomb bays.

At all costs stop them _____ aside Lancs + reducing our bombing effort on this wild goose chase. Let them prove the practicality of the weapon first. Another _____ -- only madder. The war will be over before it works -- + it never will.

Dumb question alert:

I assume the one found was inert, and wouldn't be considered UXO, correct? Hate to see a piece of history that had to be "disrupted" for safety purposes.

Another fantastic post Mark, thank you.

-Brandon

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ATC: "Oscar 2, cleared to engage wildlife at your discretion..."

First of all many thanks to Mark Allen M for (again) posting such an interesting thread. I've read about the raid so many times, but I never realised that in addition to flying so low and so steady, the Lancs were carrying bright lights basically telling the German AA gunners on the dams 'This is where you have to aim'. Makes the crews' courage (or bravery) even more outstanding.




Others have tried before, but some just copy mistakes:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalarchives/8746349405
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5733819/The-reaction-Bomber-Command-chief-Sir-Arthur-Harris-daring-bouncing-bomb-plan.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6033603/Bomber-Harris-thought-the-Dambusters-attacks-on-Germany-achieved-nothing.html

These are my suggestions:



As for the Toraplane, see https://weaponsandwarfare.com/british-aerial-ordnance-exotica/

By the way, I was a bit surprised that an Air Marshal and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath wouldn't know the difference between its and it's, but apparently he didn't.

Roger

This particular "Upkeep" would certainly have been inert. It would never have been intended to detonate as it would have been a proof of concept.
I hope it finds a suitable home. Great piece of history.
I fully agree that this is another fantastic post.

Thank you Mark

Andy

From the painting of those guys baling out at ultra low level right over the dam. Did any of them get caught when the dam was breached ?

You'd want to get out of the way pretty damned quick !

https://flic.kr/p/MUeH2E

Thanks Roger- Never heard of Toraplane before. fascinating.

My god, how young does Guy Gibson look !!!!

https://dambustersblog.com/2018/04/15/s ... ime-films/