Dambusters

[Stalker62]

When I was a schoolboy, my best mate was a lad called Roger. His Dad was an "old fart".

Roger's Dad always wore a cardigan with a shirt and tie. Mowed the lawn every week Drove a Hillman Imp. You know the type.

Then one day whilst Roger's Dad was out; my mate showed me a small brown suitcase that had been living in their attic.
Inside (amongst other bits and bobs) were Roger's Dad's RAF Cap, his medals and a picture of him and his crew stood in front of his Lancaster Bomber.

That "old fart" was a decorated WWII Lancaster Bomber pilot.

The shame on a schoolboy's face as this dawned on me, stings me to this day.

 

[Foxyboy43]

When I was a schoolboy, my best mate was a lad called Roger. His Dad was an "old fart".

Roger's Dad always wore a cardigan with a shirt and tie. Mowed the lawn every week Drove a Hillman Imp. You know the type.

Then one day whilst Roger's Dad was out; my mate showed me a small brown suitcase that had been living in their attic.
Inside (amongst other bits and bobs) were Roger's Dad's RAF Cap, his medals and a picture of him and his crew stood in front of his Lancaster Bomber.

That "old fart" was a decorated WWII Lancaster Bomber pilot.

The shame on a schoolboy's face as this dawned on me, stings me to this day.

Indeed - been there myself. Pal's father won the Croix de Guerre in WW1 for going out twice to rescue Belgian wounded - no-one knew until pal's brother was overheard talking to a guy in a bar by an old man who recognised the name, confirmed name then told him he had served with his father and witnessed what he did. Turned out the CDG was in a biscuit tin in his attic and not even his wife knew about it! All we saw was a very old man.

 

[deerwarden]

As an apprentice within a large Swedish company called Asea, based in Walthamstow, we had 5 trips a year to large engineering company's. One was a trip to the Brooklands racing track, there was a large old corrugated unit by the highest part of the old Brooklands, this was where Barnes Wallis developed his bouncing bomb, a huge tank of water dominated the area, and at both ends were small steal balls with differing metal patterns on the outside. We spent hours while an apprentice at the company shew us how Wallis fired the different types of balls along the large water filled tank. Outside the hut either side of the door, two large upright bombs were positioned upright to the sky, one short and very wide, the other tall and very streamlined. Both designed by Wallis for different purposes. Brooklands was always our most interesting trip, it still had much of the old racing track, and some old damaged racing cars. deerwarden

 

[Firefly]

As an apprentice within a large Swedish company called Asea, based in Walthamstow, we had 5 trips a year to large engineering company's. One was a trip to the Brooklands racing track, there was a large old corrugated unit by the highest part of the old Brooklands, this was where Barnes Wallis developed his bouncing bomb, a huge tank of water dominated the area, and at both ends were small steal balls with differing metal patterns on the outside. We spent hours while an apprentice at the company shew us how Wallis fired the different types of balls along the large water filled tank. Outside the hut either side of the door, two large upright bombs were positioned upright to the sky, one short and very wide, the other tall and very streamlined. Both designed by Wallis for different purposes. Brooklands was always our most interesting trip, it still had much of the old racing track, and some old damaged racing cars. deerwarden

Brooklands is now a museum covering various subjects, military, aviation and of course motor sport. It’s a blooming good day out and I highly recommend it !

Brooklands Museum

Ff

 

[Foxyboy43]

How interesting! Next time I am that way I will call in. On the subject of the "two large bombs" - if you are ever in Northern France near little places called Eperleque and Wizerne there are examples of what the longer bomb achieved. Designed to create an earthquake it shook even the largest nazi "bomb proof" V1 and 2 assembly structures pretty much off their foundations when other direct hits proved pretty much ineffective. One of these structures "Le Blochause" is the most chilling place I have ever been and right up against the front wall is a rather large round pond and a number of obvious structural "alterations" "designed" by Barnes Wallis and "delivered" by the RAF which effectively stopped V1/2 assembly dead! The other place "la Coupoule" is underground in a large quarry with a bomb-proof domed roof (coupoule) which also had major alterations provided by the same two (de)construction firms. One of the finest large photos ever shows two germans running down a ramp to the underground entrance and looking over their shoulders in abject terror. This photo was taken by a Spitfire which flew into the quarry - armed only with cameras - lucky for the two germans! Brilliant stuff and both well worth visiting.