Clive !!!

[v-lux]

I hope you're watching channel4 right now!!

[v-lux]

Please tell me you saw it clive?

[HarryMann]

No, but thanks I was away so will watch it online.

I happen to have a very good book on the Wallis bombs, the Tallboy & Grand Slam earthquake bombs being the progenitors of what today the Americans call 'bunker busters'

[jebiga41]

What????

[HarryMann]

Nothing Paul... just how 'we' won the war,that's all

[Titus A Duxass]

I'm watching it tonight, looking forward to it.
I've also studied all the Wallis bombs.

I hope they make a good job of it.

[syncropaddy]

Nothing Paul... just how 'we' won the war,that's all

Paul's one of you lot !!

[jebiga41]

The beauty of dual nationality you can pick your sides Well you know what they say Clive Bombing for peace is like f****ing for virginity

[HarryMann]

Yup, Paul, Ok it helped US vin de wor
Yes, I knew a girl at my last company who had a Canadian, Aussie & British passport... Veery handy!

[silverbullet]

No, but thanks I was away so will watch it online.

I happen to have a very good book on the Wallis bombs, the Tallboy & Grand Slam earthquake bombs being the progenitors of what today the Americans call 'bunker busters'

The examiners will expect to see your full working for all calculations on your answer sheet

#shudder# The thought of going through exams again

[syncropaddy]

Ok it helped US vin de wor

US as in United States ??????

[R0B]

Dont mention the war

[HarryMann]

.. and don't mention I still haven't viewed it, Al, forgive me for my sins....

[Titus A Duxass]

It's well worth watching.
There are some questionable parts but there's also some awesome flying.

[HarryMann]

Will watch tonite then

The Lanc* was the only bomber in the world with an uninterrupted 32 ft long bomb bay and the ability to get a 22,000 lb, 10 ton Grand Slam off the ground and up to about 18,000 ft.... they were so valuable that if it wasn't dropped (often hung-up to start with, or target not identified) they had to brought back - only happened once or twice, but don't think the pilots were too happy coming in at that weight - but in wartime almost anything seems doable. One landed at a US base in Suffolk with Grand Slam hooked up... they couldn't believe that such a thing existed (they were dropping clusters of 500 lb'ers usually), possibly the Fort would take as little as 5,000 lb on very long range missions.

It's structurally a lot different to the weight of all the fuel in the wings, such a big weight in the centre of the fuse, film of one being dropped would be interesting as the plane might jump 500ft and almost clap its wings above itself

I think those Upkeep Dam Bombs weighed about 12,000 lb, the same as the first earthquake Tallboys. It's a shame the smaller spherical Highballs were never used against shipping (due to giving the enemy the idea)... a bit like the idea of 'Window' radar shield (ally foil tinsel**) not being used for a year so, until Churchill finally gave the nod for the Hamburg raids.
Highballs were taken to the far East, after VE day, to attack Japanaese shipping using carrier based Mosquitos. The Mossies also practised 'skipping' Highballs into railway tunnels.. somewhere in Wales I believe. Tallboys were dropped through many tens of feet of earth above railway tunnels to explode inside, once apparently trapping a whole supply train inside near Samur.

* 617's Lancs were modified for the Dams raid and thereafter for the Tallboys & Grand Slams, with dorsal turrent removed (less drag) and more powerful Merlins. It's possible the wings were slighly beefed, or at least they were latest spec. new-build and limited to a few hundred hours fatigue life.

** Wondering if this is where the idea for 'Bacofoil' came from years later