BARNES WALLIS
By Stuart Binyon
Why He Became Famous and why I
have chosen him
• Barnes became famous because he invented
the bouncing bombs to destroy German dams
to make it hard for the German industry.
• Barnes also got knighted in 1968.
• I have chosen him because his interesting
invention is so unique and his story has been
made into a film called “Dambusters.”
Family Life
• Barnes was born on the 26th September 1887
Ripley, Derbyshire.
• Barnes mother was called Edith Ashby , his
father was named Charles Wallis , two
brother’s named John and Charles and one
sister named Annie.
• He got married on St.George’s day 1925 and
had four children.
• He died on 30th October 1979 [age 92].
Education
• Barnes and his brother John received their
education at Christ’s Hospital in Horsham
since the Wallis family was too poor to go to
school , Barnes had to compete in an entrance
exam and he came 7th in 110 boys which let
him take a place at the school.
Pictures
Role During The War
• Barnes designed airships and wellington
bombers before the war. Barnes felt that the
best way of defeating Germany was to attack
its industry. The most logical way of doing this
was to destroy the dams which collected and
used the water which was so essential for the
industry to continue.
Dambusters
• On the 16th and 17th of May 1943 the 617
squadron of the Royal Air Force took part in
operation after months of secret training.
• Barnes designed a bomb that could be carried
by a plane and if dropped at a certain height
would bounce along the water. It then rolled
down the side of the dam and exploded at the
base.
Outcome
• The names of the dams which were destroyed
or damaged were called Moehne , Eder and
Sorpe .
• 53 of 133 aircrew that took part died.
• The raid caused extensive flooding and
damage.
Thoughts and feelings
• I feel that Barnes Wallis is an extremely
knowledgeable person who helped us win
world war two.
• He wasn’t a soldier but an engineer and
inventor. He was a genius but a bit eccentric.
Fast Facts
• Barnes used to eat three spoonfuls of porridge
and eight prunes for breakfast and always ate
cold rice pudding when he got home.
• Prince Charles went to his funeral.
• Barnes invented different types of bombs but
the most famous bomb is the bouncing bomb.
• A famous film was made of his story of
developing the bouncing bomb.
• One of the airmen won a Victoria cross medal
on the mission.
THE END
• Thank you for listening
• Are there any questions?
1943
2004
Bibliography
• http://www.chn.bris.ac.uk/weprojects2001/m
oor
• Wikipedia.
• The boys book of V.C HEROES by Newton
Branch.
• BBC history – historic features
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures
/wallis_neville_barnes.shtml