Daughter of Dambusters' bomb inventor drops in for display

THE daughter of the inventor of the Second World War bouncing bomb was in East Yorkshire yesterday to unveil two interpretation boards at the site where her father spent part of his early career.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Aug 2010, 12:38 BST
Updated 4th Aug 2010, 12:39 BST

Barnes Wallis came to Howden in 1926 to lead the design team that built the R100 airship – which flew successfully to Canada and back in the summer of 1930. However, hopes of further development were dashed when its rival ship, the R101, crashed going to India in October that year on its maiden voyage, killing 48.

As well as inventing the bombs used in the famous Dambusters' raids, Barnes Wallis designed aircraft including the Wellington.

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The boards were unveiled at Boothferry Golf Club by Barnes Wallis' daughter Mary Stopes-Roe.

Ken Deacon, a former systems analyst with British Aerospace at Brough, near Hull, who has written three books about the R100, said: "We have people coming into town and asking about the airships but have nothing to show them as the airfield is a golf course and the only two relics left are two bungalows on farming land which were the workshops of the original station and some mooring blocks."

A film about the R100 is being shown at Beverley's Treasure House today at 12.30pm.

Related topics:East YorkshireBarnes WallisHowdenIndia