B-W Poster

Barnes Wallis is inevitably linked with the ‘Bouncing Bombs’ which breached the Mohne and Eder Dams in World War 2 as well as the devastating ‘Tallboy’ and ‘Grand Slam’ bombs.

 

This may lead to the assumption that he made a life study of the art of destruction. Nothing could be further from the truth; in fact, in 1939 his prime concern was to decide how he could make a contribution that would hasten the end of World War 2.

 

Barnes Wallis was at the forefront of Engineering developments from the early evolution of rigid airship design to the revolutionary Geodetic fuselage structure of the Wellington Bomber and on to the development of ‘swing-wing’ aircraft of the jet age.

 

He also participated in the development of radio telescopy and nuclear submarines, the de-icing of trawlers, and gave much time and money to educational advancement and charity.