The Dam Busters Page #3

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If Glanville will let me have the model

dams at St Harmondsworth again

I would say... a week or ten days.

- How do you feel about that, Glanville?

- We'll be of any help we can.

Right. Then I should like to propose

that we formally adjourn for two weeks.

Can I take it

that the committee agrees to this?

Splendid!

I'm so glad you could come down.

I think you'll find this very interesting.

Glanville's people

have rigged up two charges.

This first one is equivalent

to a 10 ton bomb, 50 feet from the wall,

as in the earlier experiments.

This second one is only half that charge

but fixed to the wall itself.

Both are at a depth

equivalent to 30 feet.

- Are we all ready, Collins?

- All ready, Dr Glanville.

- You want to take cover?

- No, I don't think so.

Not for the first one.

If you all stand back over there...

All right, Collins, go ahead!

There. You see?

It isn't even scratched?

A very slight shock is recorded

and then it returns to normal.

This is where I was wrong before.

The cushion of water

between the explosion and the wall

absorbs the shock almost completely.

Shall we have the second one?

- When you're ready.

- This should get our feet wet.

Watch it.

Fire.

- Good heavens! That's wonderful.

- Wonderful.

And that is only

half the charge of the first one.

Do you see the difference when it's placed

against the wall at the right depth?

The cushion of water acts in our favour

sending shockwaves right through the wall.

If we use this as a basis,

Glanville and I have calculated

we should one need 6,000 pounds

of this new explosive, RD X,

to breach the Mhne dam itself.

I can cut the case weight down

and make a complete bomb

of less than 5 tons.

We shouldn't need

a specially constructed aircraft either.

The new four engine Lancaster can carry

a 5 ton bomb right through to the Ruhr.

- If you can make the bomb...

- Naturally.

And get it to explode exactly in the

right position, hard against the dam wall.

- despite the protecting torpedo nets?

- Of course, that's essential.

But you still don't tell us how.

Well, if you're satisfied

with what you've seen

and I can have the proper facilities

I think I can do it.

- What facilities do you want?

- A testing tank, a really big one.

The biggest I know is the experimental

ship tank at Teddington,

- the National Physical Laboratory's.

- Could I use one of those?

- I'll see what we can do.

- Uh-huh.

- Well, goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

And keep at it.

I think you've got something.

Three, two, one...

fire!

1 10, 1 36.

Thank you.

That's no good, it's too short.

Try 2 foot 6.

Well gentlemen, when you asked us

to let Barnes Wallis use this tank of ours

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