for our Sir Barnes Wallis 'Dam Busters' Collection auction to be held on Wednesday 25th of March 2026
| Lot No | Description | Est | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | Two black and white oak framed aerial photographic prints of the Mohne Dam before and after the Operation Chastise "Dam Busters" strike on May 16th 1943, the post strike photograph signed by surviving members of 617 Squadron also ground crew and admin staff, notably Wg Cdr Guy Gibson V.C DSO DFC whose signature is direct centre over the water rushing through the breach in the dam. 105cm h x 105cm w (89.5cm h x 89.5cm w unframed) | 10000-15000 |
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| 151 | A Commander Of The Most Excellent Order of The British Empire, Civil Division silver gilt neck badge, 2nd Type, with original ribbon, by Garrard and Co Ltd, awarded to Sir Barnes Wallis in 1943, contained in original black fitted case with gilt lettering. | 500-600 |
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| 152 | A wooden model of Tallboy (Medium) Bomb 32cm, raised on a mahogany stand with brass plaque marked Tallboy (Medium) 12,000 LB. 1/20 scale. The Tallboy was the first bomb Wallis designed after the success of the bouncing bomb. The bomb was so large, there were no aircraft capable of lifting it to its optimal altitude but it could be dropped from a lower height and would enter the earth at near supersonic speed, penetrating to a depth of up to 20m before exploding. The Tallboy was used on strategic German targets such as V-2 rocket launch sites, the V-3 supergun bunker, submarine pens and the battleship Tirpitz, as well as large civil constructions such as viaducts and bridges | 400-600 |
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| 153 | A Sheffield stainless steel pocket knife by Southern and Richardson having mother of pearl handle and blade stamped Immaculate Stainless (found within the Tallboy bomb model whilst cataloguing). | 70-90 |
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| 154 | A wooden model of The Grand Slam Bomb (medium capacity) 22,000 LB (10,000 kilogrammes earthquake bomb) raised on a turned wooden stand 17cm x 7cm. The Grand Slam was the second bomb Wallis designed after the success of the bouncing bomb. The bomb was even larger than the Tallboy and there was still no aircraft capable of lifting it to its optimal altitude. Like the Tallboy it could be dropped from a lower height and would enter the earth at near supersonic speed, penetrating to a depth of up to 20m before exploding. The Grand Slam was also used on strategic German targets such as V-2 rocket launch sites, the V-3 supergun bunker, submarine pens and the battleship Tirpitz, as well as large civil constructions such as viaducts and bridges. | 400-600 |
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| 155 | A black and white photograph of the grave of Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson VC DSO DFC, contained in a cream and red Bakelite table frame 15cm x 15cm x 5cm, the grave is situated in the Roman Catholic Cemetery at Steenbergen-en-Kruisland, Netherlands. The photograph is visible in photos of Sir Barnes Wallis' office on top of a bookcase. A colour photo of the pair of graves of Gibson and his navigator, Squadron Leader Jim Warwick DFC, was found in the frame and is also included. Gibson and Warwick died on 19th September 1944 when their Mosquito aircraft crashed in Holland. | 500-700 |
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