Bouncing Bomb being recovered from Portland 1989

[howboutthatchange]

Why do you keep calling it a bomb? You said it was a test dummy so why do u keep calling it a bomb when it is not an explosive at all?

[andysvideo]

You are of course absolutely right and I am sure it was the highlight of your day pointing that out to all of us. Many Thanks Andy

[adamismgen]

@andysvideo she passed away a long time ago but it would be cool

if she could see it :)

[adamismgen]

My grandma was one of the people who helped design the bomb with barnes walace

[andysvideo]

If she is still alive Adam, you should put her in touch with Brooklands. You can see the bomb in this video plus a full size bouncing bomb.

[Larcombe01]

I don't think Helicopter is the best way to launch it, I didn't even see it bounce once.

[AustralianPyro]

it's a strange thing, but this concrete filled drum and what it helped to achieve is about as engrained in British history as Churchill or the SuperMarine Spitfire.

[andysvideo]

A fair point and when you see the look on people's faces when they get up close to one, it makes your point even stronger.

Andy

[AustralianPyro]

@andysvideo

I think the britts aught to put a bronze spitfire up onto of the pedestal at Picadilly square

[aviatorbloke]

The bomb was recovered from the Fleet during the summer of 1989. I had known about the location of the bomb for some years and arranged to have it lifted out of the water by a Seaking from [I think] 772.

The bomb was badly corroded, and damaged, so that it was possible to see the contents. If my memory is correct, it didn't have concrete in it but a softer substance that smelled like Napthalene - Torpex perhaps?

Stuart Martin

[mrrocker1993]

hey iv been to chesil beach! i stayed there last year!

[racecardriver467]

was it a test dummy or a live bomb?

[andysvideo]

It was a test one filled with concrete. It had been dropped early on in the development.

It is now on display (along with a full size one) at Brooklands

[myscongeniality]

Very interesting, thank you for posting! :)

[davybranson]

That is one awesome helicopter, makes the truck look like a toy one!