How many preserved Tallboy's/Grandslam's ?

Pete,

I think that the bombs on either side of the gate are the largest German bombs, nicknamed “Hermann” for some arcane reason 😀
Adrian

Possibly a reference to a rotund, ex-WW1 fighter-pilot turned Reichsmarchall and drug-addict (also known as Der Dicke)???

Dornier Do 217. In the eighties a Hermann was defused by a British UXB team.

As an EOD (or whatever the term is this week) unit are based at Debden, this could be one of the ones on display.

I believe it was a Hermann that was found at the bottom of a gasometer when Beckton gasworks was demolished in the 1980s – or was it an SC500?

Adrian

I suspect that the weight may be total rather than of explosive. The reason for this being that when I found “my” SC50 whilst metal detecting on the foreshore at Whitstable, the chap from Navy EOD actually lifted it bodily from it’s hole. If it was 50kg of bang, plus weight of case, he’d have been struggling! (must find those photos!).

As for which aircraft could carried a Hermann, you will have to ask a better man than me… Sorry!

Adrian

(shrapnel makes a great paperweight, so long as you don’t mind interesting cuts in your paper!)

Dornier Do 217. In the eighties a Hermann was defused by a British UXB team.

Cheers

Cees

I suspect that the weight may be total rather than of explosive. The reason for this being that when I found “my” SC50 whilst metal detecting on the foreshore at Whitstable, the chap from Navy EOD actually lifted it bodily from it’s hole. If it was 50kg of bang, plus weight of case, he’d have been struggling! (must find those photos!).

As for which aircraft could carried a Hermann, you will have to ask a better man than me… Sorry!

Adrian

(shrapnel makes a great paperweight, so long as you don’t mind interesting cuts in your paper!)

Pete,

I think that the bombs on either side of the gate are the largest German bombs, nicknamed “Hermann” for some arcane reason 😀 I cannot remember the size – SC1000, possibly? Having seen an SC50 go off, I would rather NOT be anywhere near a live Hermann, thank you very much.

Unfortunately I cannot help with one just the other side – I’ve probably puzzled about it myself, as well…

Adrian

I take it that the numbers relate to Kilos of explosives, if so, which Luftwaffe a/c was capable of taking one of this size and where did you see an SC50 detonated.

Pete,

I think that the bombs on either side of the gate are the largest German bombs, nicknamed “Hermann” for some arcane reason 😀 I cannot remember the size – SC1000, possibly? Having seen an SC50 go off, I would rather NOT be anywhere near a live Hermann, thank you very much.

Unfortunately I cannot help with one just the other side – I’ve probably puzzled about it myself, as well…

Adrian

There’s a very large bomb on display at the gate at Debden, I have to drive past there tomorrow, I’ll try and remember to take my digital and face the armed guards, I’m sure they’ll show some Xmas spirit to a long haired old git.
Will have to go past DX as well, anything likely to be flying?

I’m ressurecting this thread because I’ve just driven past Debden and looked at the bombs on the gate. Unfortunately the gates were shut in connection with some building work and I just used up the digi batteries on an 18th century house.
The bombs either side of the gate look quite old, about 2.4m long with long fins terminating in a circular fin.
The bomb on the other side of the entrance barrier is pretty huge and looks like a Tallboy, the only thing is that the fins look longer and of a different shape than anyhing pictured on here, had the gate been open I would have had a word with the guards, but the sight of their SA80’s put me off waving through the gate.

That makes two of us.

Three

Dave
I was just having a browse through my Brooklands pics and noticed these two in the background. This was taken in Jan05

Kilvy

Dave,elvington also have an excellent wallis exhibition ,even a test bouncing bomb

Yes, seen it c/o Google (just type in Barnes Wallis), but they dont appear to have anything bigger than an Upkeep.

Can anybody confirm ?

Cheers…..

Dave,elvington also have an excellent wallis exhibition ,even a test bouncing bomb

The V-2 coloured smaller version is a ‘Smallboy’ it transpires. Not heard of that before……

That makes two of us.

For the record, Brooklands has both a Tallboy (as seen in Kilvy’s pics), a Grand Slam (now displayed next to the Wellington) and a 4,000 prototype earthquake bomb used in spinning trials.

Thanks, list duly amended.

The V-2 coloured smaller version is a ‘Smallboy’ it transpires. Not heard of that before, but i’ve been told these book’s are worth acquiring……

For the record, Brooklands has both a Tallboy (as seen in Kilvy’s pics), a Grand Slam (now displayed next to the Wellington) and a 4,000 prototype earthquake bomb used in spinning trials.

There’s a very large bomb on display at the gate at Debden, I have to drive past there tomorrow, I’ll try and remember to take my digital and face the armed guards, I’m sure they’ll show some Xmas spirit to a long haired old git.
Will have to go past DX as well, anything likely to be flying?

Had a word with a chap at the RAFM and according to him they have:-

2 Tallboys (One on loan to 617sqdn and another without a tail on loan to YAM at Elvington)

4 Grand Slams (One at Hendon, one in store at Cosford, one on loan to Brooklands and another tailess one on loan to Elvington)

Anne

My mum took a pic at Brooklands in April which appeared to show a Tallboy and a Grand Slam, near the Wellington. When she arrives for Christmas I’ll check again.

There is a Tallboy on display in a scrapyard near Cleethorpes. It’s cherished and not available sadly!

I took these at Brooklands earlier this year….

Kilvy

Am i correct in saying that the easy way to spot the difference is the offset fins on a Grand Slam and straight on a Tallboy ? :confused:

Indeed James, i would have thought major collections such as Hendon, Duxford, Cosford etc… should have one.

I recall at least one next to S-Sugar, can anybody confirm ?

.

There is/was a large bomb on display amongst other wizz bang things outside a large munitions depot in Gosport. I’m not sure of it’s identity as I’m usually trying to avoid the other traffic whilst driving past. I shall endeavour to find out more.