The Dam Busters Page #2

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We'd better go in.

Surely Mr Wallis must realise

the false position he's putting us into.

We were appointed to examine

a definite proposition.

I don't think we were confined

to any definite proposition.

We were appointed to examine every

possibility of air attack on these dams.

I know, but Mr Wallis

did put forward a

theory that was hopelessly

wide of the mark.

And on the strength of this, he wants time

to explore a completely new theory

that's too fantastic even to explain.

I'm only asking for one simple thing:

I want you to give me sufficient time.

To discover how much explosive

would be needed to breach these dams

if we could explode a bomb

directly against the wall.

How do you propose to get the bomb

directly against the wall?

That is what I'm working on now.

Yes, but surely

you can give us some idea.

I don't think that we can press Mr Wallis

to do that.

If I had a partly formed theory,

I certainly shouldn't want to talk about it

until I'm sure that it is all clear.

Quite so.

How long would you need to carry out

these new experiments?

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

I didn't expect him to be still here

after five months.

I don't think we did either.

We have urgent experiments

waiting for this tank.

Any idea how long he's going to be?

It's making things very difficult.

He's exploring something entirely new,

you can't hurry this kind of research.

I know and if I thought

he was getting anywhere...

But he doesn't seem to be doing so.

At any rate, he doesn't tell me anything.

He spends hours and hours

shooting golf balls up and down.

And every now and then,

he breaks a window.

Look, couldn't you find him

some quiet duck pond in the country

where he could shoot things up and down

without being a nuisance to other people?

We'd better have a word with him.

Is he there now?

He's always there.

Didn't go home at all last night.

- Why was that?

- I don't know, I think he forgot.

He only has lunch

about once a week.

All right. Stand by!

Once again.

Three, two, one...

fire!

It's OK, I got that all right.

1 5 0 2 0 3.

Splendid! We'll try that again.

Oh, hello.

Hello.

You couldn't have come

at a better time.

It's extraordinary

how these things happen.

One goes on and on feels as if

one's up against a brick wall forever

and then suddenly, it's as if a light

flashes on and everything slips into place.

And now...

If you come along here...

I've got a camera recording

but I think that up by the middle

you'll see everything perfectly.

All right.

Er, just about where you are.

Are you all ready?

Once again.

Right.

Three, two, one...

fire!

1 4 0...

We've been trying for months

to find a rule

by which we can fix

the height of each bounce.

If the bomb is released too soon,

it won't reach the dam,

if it's released too late,

it'll bounce over it

and explode directly under the aircraft

killing everyone.

But now, we've got it! If you just wait

here a moment and I'll do that again.

Right.

Three, two, one..

Fire!

You see? It wasn't a fluke,

it works.

Well, that seems to be conclusive.

It's extraordinarily good of you

to have been so patient.

Not at all, glad we could help.

There were times when you must have

thought I was absolutely cockeyed.

- My dear fellow, that's the last thing...

- I shouldn't blame you if you did.

There's such a very thin dividing line

between inspiration and obsession

that sometimes is very hard to know

which side we're on.

- Will you need the tank anymore?

- If I could have it

until the end of the week to check

my calculations and complete the report.

That's perfectly all right.

You'll leave on Saturday?

Oh, yes, definitely.

After what you've seen today,

you'll put in a satisfactory report.

Certainly. I think this

ought to convince the committee.

Splendid!

After that, it's a matter

for the Ministry of Aircraft Production.

Under normal conditions, we should go

right ahead and give you every facility.

But I'm afraid at the present moment,

it's quite impossible.

But why, after that report?

You know how difficult things are,

Mr Wallis.

The shipping losses: half a million tons

last month alone,

most of it vital war material.

We haven't got an ounce to spare

for anything except the highest priority.

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