Herne Bay
In the annals of World War 2 history, the name Barnes Wallis is forever etched as the brilliant engineer behind the legendary “bouncing bomb” used in the famous Dambusters raid. However, few people know that this ingenious inventor had a close connection to the town of Herne Bay, located on the north coast of Kent, England.
Barnes Wallis was born in Ripley, Derbyshire, in 1887, but it was his time in Herne Bay that played a pivotal role in the development of the bouncing bomb. During the war years, Wallis chose Herne Bay as the location to conduct the full scale tests, working as the chief designer and research engineer for the Vickers-Armstrongs aircraft company. Wallis initially worked on his idea by experimenting with bouncing marbles across a water tub in his back garden. However, when it came to conducting full size tests he needed planes and a much larger expanse of water.
Herne Bay’s Coastline
Herne Bay’s unique coastal geography and the availability of a large body of water made it an ideal location for Wallis to conduct his experiments on the bouncing bomb. The town’s long, straight seafront and the expanse of the Thames Estuary provided the perfect testing ground for Wallis to perfect his revolutionary weapon. In addition the airport of Manston was not far away. Many of the tests took place along the coast near the small village/hamlet of Reculver.
In the early 1940s, Wallis began experimenting with the concept of a “bouncing bomb” that could be used to breach the dams of Nazi Germany’s industrial heartland. The idea was to create a bomb that could skip across the water and then sink to the base of the dam, where it would explode and breach the structure.
The bouncing bomb, officially titled the “Upkeep”, was used during “Operation Chastise” in 1943. It was a tactical military operation executed by the Royal Air Force in which the bouncing bombs were used to demolish German dams – a critical step towards the Allies’ victory. But what is a bouncing bomb? As the name suggests, this device was designed to skip or bounce across water to avoid enemy defences, such as torpedo nets. This was a unique response to the German’s defences, and it worked to devastating effect.
Wallis actually developed more than one bouncing bomb. “Upkeep” was for destroying dams, “Baseball” for attacking ships and also one designed to be fired from motor torpedo boats called “Highball”. This family of bombs was given the codename “Golfmine”.
Wallis’s genius in creating the bouncing bomb was not only in the concept but also in the execution. By designing a bomb that would bounce on the water, much like a skipping stone, it made it difficult for enemy defences to target and defend against as it skipped over torpedo nets. Once it reached the dam, the back-spin would drive the bomb down the dam wall, beneath the water, before detonating, causing significant damage. Wallis conducted numerous tests in the waters off Herne Bay, using various prototypes and models to perfect the design of the bouncing bomb.
Once whilst Wallis and his team were conducting a test the bomb they were testing failed to bounce properly and instead plunged straight into the water, causing a massive splash. Undeterred, Wallis continued his experiments, eventually perfecting the design that would be used in the famous Dambusters raid.
Operation Chastise
Photograph of the breached Möhne Dam taken by Flying Officer Jerry Fray of No. 542 Squadron from his Spitfire PR IX, six Barrage balloons are above the dam.
The Dambusters raid, codenamed Operation Chastise, took place on the night of May 16-17, 1943. Led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, a team of specially trained pilots from the Royal Air Force’s 617 Squadron flew low over the Ruhr Valley in Germany, dropping Wallis’s bouncing bombs on the Möhne, Eder, and Sorpe dams. The raid was a stunning success, breaching the dams and causing widespread destruction to the Nazi’s industrial heartland.
The Dambusters raid was a pivotal moment in the war, and Wallis’s contribution to its success was immense. However, the town of Herne Bay played a crucial role in the development of the bouncing bomb, providing the perfect testing ground for Wallis’s experiments. How fascinating is it to know that the tranquil, picturesque settings of Reculver witnessed momentous innovations?
Bouncing Bombs Recovery
Haydon Rouse “guarding” bouncing bomb prototypes after their recovery at Reculver in 1997.
The author himself was present at the recovery of some of the bouncing bombs found at Reculver. At the time, the author was serving as a Special Constable, and he was called out with other officers late one wet night to block off roads and the surrounding area. For safety the bomb disposal team and other specialists didn’t want lots of sightseers going to look at the recovery operation.
Haydon remembers the recovery team at the time saying “yeah, we think they’re dummies, but best not touch them!”.
On Friday 6th June 1997 Army engineers recovered the third of four ‘bouncing’ bombs on Reculver Beach near Herne Bay. One of the bombs recovered was an 8,000lb ‘Upkeep’ weapon identical to those used to bomb the Ruhr dams in April and May 1943. The others devices recovered were prototypes.
On 29th March 2017, a Herne Bay local, Lisa Clayton, found the endcap off one of the test bouncing bombs whilst walking at Reculver beach.
In August 2018 James Crouch was with his five-year-old son Freddie in Reculver, near Minnis Bay, Kent when they discovered a World War II-era Dambuster bouncing “bomb.” The device was recovered at the next low-tide.
Remembering
Today, Herne Bay’s connection to the Dambusters raid and Barnes Wallis is celebrated through various local initiatives. The town’s museum features a permanent exhibition on the bouncing bomb and Wallis’s time in the area. The statue of Barnes Wallis is part of Herne Bay’s Cultural Trail.
There have been Dambusters events locally, commemorating the raid and Wallis’s legacy. The events included talks and exhibitions about the Dambusters and the town’s role in the development of the legendary weapon.
The story of Barnes Wallis and the town of Herne Bay is a fascinating chapter in the history of World War II. Wallis’s ingenious mind and the town’s unique coastal geography combined to create one of the most iconic weapons of the war, the bouncing bomb. The town’s connection to this pivotal moment in history is a source of pride for the local community and a testament to the enduring legacy of Barnes Wallis and the Dambusters raid.
Barnes Wallis Statue
A statue of Barnes Wallis now stands at 2 Beacon Hill, Herne Bay CT6 6AU to honour his memory. The bronze life-size statue of Sir Barnes Wallis was created by sculptor Tom White.
The plaque on the statue says:
Herne Bay Cultural Trail
Sir Barnes Neville Wallis
1887 – 1979
Scientist, engineer and inventor
Most noted for his invention of the bouncing bomb used in the dambusters raids.