The dams bomb ....
It was a cylinder weighing 9,250lb including 6,600 of RDX explosive, it had a lenght of 5 feet and was 4 feet 8 inches in diameter. It had three hydrostatic pistols primed to detonate at 30 feet, it also had a ninety second time fuse, automaticaly tripped when bomb release.
It was attached to the Lancaster via calliper arms, The arms were held together using powerful springs, the arms sprung open when the bomb aimer pressed the release button this also removed the safety pin from the bomb. Ten minutes before bomb release, a motor started the bomb rotating up to a speed of 500 rpm. The height for release was set at 60 feet at a speed of 240 to 250 mph and had to be release between 400 and 500 feet from the target dam
A smaller bouncing bomb was produced codenamed "Highball" this was to be used against shipping by a squadron of Mosquitos
Picture was taken a Duxford
