BOMBER COMMAND BOMBS AND INCENDIARIES

[PAFG]

Hi Bob - used to drive past it regularly on way to/from leave - it's a pretty big structure. AHB narrative on 'bombs and bombing equipment' includes Wallace's paper in June 43 for the Air Ministry on the use of heavy bombs against 1. 'size invulnerable', 2. 'shape invulnerable' and 3. 'situation invulnerable' targets. Examples of suitable targets given in the paper are:

1. 'size invulnerable' - Rothensee ship lift; Sorpe and other earth-type dams.
2. 'shape invulnerable' - railway lines, viaducts and bridges, notably the Bielefeld viaduct and others which command the whole traffic east of the Ruhr valley; Canals and locks, especially the vital Dortmund-Ems and Mittelland canals.
3. 'situation invulnerable' - all subterranean targets (railway tunnels, tube railways, deep sewers and buried oil storage; all vertical shafts (coal mines; the great hydraulic balance shafts of the Rothensee ship lift); foundations of bridges, viaducts, aquaducts and large structures in general.

Here's his diagram of what he thought he could do with a Grand Slam (called Tallboy Large at this stage) to the Bielefeld viaduct:

P1050167 (600 x 517).jpg

[Bob Wilton]

Hi PAFG,

Those diagrams are really something,and I did not known that it was one of Barnes Wallace's plans to hit the viaduct with one of his bombs.I was a brown job at Detmold
and I used to go to Bielefeld quite often.Ended up with our ration truck driver going there to load food provisions.

Happy Days

Bob

[PAFG]

I did not known that it was one of Barnes Wallace's plans to hit the viaduct with one of his bombs.I was a brown job at Detmold
and I used to go to Bielefeld quite often. Ended up with our ration truck driver going there to load food provisions.

Happy Days

Bob

Very happy days - I was up the road in Hohne for 5 years. didn't mean to imply that Barnes Wallace planned to bomb the viaduct himself, I think he intended the RAF to do that for him, but he intended to give them the right tools for the job

Cheers,
Richard

[Bob Wilton]

I did not known that it was one of Barnes Wallace's plans to hit the viaduct with one of his bombs.I was a brown job at Detmold
and I used to go to Bielefeld quite often. Ended up with our ration truck driver going there to load food provisions.

Happy Days

Bob

Very happy days - I was up the road in Hohne for 5 years. didn't mean to imply that Barnes Wallace planned to bomb the viaduct himself, I think he intended the RAF to do that for him, but he intended to give them the right tools for the job

Cheers,
Richard

Hi Richard,

Poor old Barne's would have said maybe. "Hang on chaps I only invented it,the dropping of it is the responsibility of you lads.

Hohne! Then you will know the 'Round House' well then?

Regards

Bob

[K4KittyCrew]

These photos come courtesy of Neil Mackenzie collection.
John

[K4KittyCrew]

Hi Folks,

Here is a great photo from forum member 'hindenburg' ......... from his kaz hayles collection. http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&sourc ... qsYGYizgUA
John

[K4KittyCrew]

here are a couple more 'Tallboys' ...............
John

[K4KittyCrew]

And one from 57 Squadron, East Kirkby.
John

[Nocturna mors]

Nice shot of some SBC,s and Matador bowser,.....oh, and a "Lanc"

Source http://www.retronaut.co/2012/08/the-raf-1939-1945/

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Rgds Tom

[Nocturna mors]

Original Planet News Press Photograph . RAF 207 Squadron Members With A 8000lb Bomb And A Few Personal Messages For Someone , At Wings For Victory Week In Trafalgar Square 1943.

Source E bay

8000 lb bomb.JPG (156.57 KiB) Viewed 4549 times

Tom