Bouncing Bombs! Who knew?!

Abberton Reservoir in Essex is the 4th largest reservoir in England. Residents of Woodland View were interested to find this out on a recent trip to the site which has been designated a wetland of international importance.

The reservoir has capacity of up to 41,000 megalitres of water, which is supplied from three river sources. The River Stour, Blackwater and Chelmer.

The information that really raised eyebrows among the visiting residents was when they were told the Reservoir was used by the RAF's 617 Squadron ('The Dam Busters') for practice runs for the bombing of the German dams in the Ruhr during World War II (Operation Chastise).

Wing Commander Guy Gibson, the leader of the raid, referred to it as 'Colchester Lake' in his auto-biography Enemy Coast Ahead. The reservoir was similar in shape to that of the Eder Dam in Germany which was attacked after the Möhne Dam had been breached.

The Layer Causeway was used as a substitute for the Eder Dam. Military police closed the causeway whilst the practice runs took place. Lancaster bombers fitted with special bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis were used (there is much debate if the dummy bombs were actually used on Abberton Reservoir or another body of water in the UK, or if the practice runs were purely to test the targeting system used).

The last practice flight to Abberton was a full dress rehearsal of the attack and took place on the night of May 14, 1943; the attack on the dams in Germany took place on the night of May 16, 1943.

Woodland View residents are always learning new things about their area!

click here for more details or to contact Barchester Woodland View Care Home