Plaque

Road Research Laboratory

Erection date: 26/9/2013

Inscription

{By an image of a Lancaster Bomber:}
Tests conducted by the Road Research Laboratory against model dams built on this site during 1940 - 42 assisted Barnes Wallis in his development of the bouncing bomb (Upkeep), used by No. 617 Squadron Royal Air Force to breach the Ruhr Dams 16/17 May 1943.
Hillingdon London

Site: Sir Barnes Wallis - Harmondsworth (2 memorials)

UB7, Moor Lane

This marks the site where Wallis's water-skipping explosives were tested on models at the Road Research Laboratories. Tom Long sent us this 1946 map which shows the Road Research Lab buildings a little to the south, on the Colnbrook By-pass, to the east of the 4 houses that are still there, surprisingly since Heathrow airport wiped out most of what's shown on this map.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Road Research Laboratory

Subjects commemorated i

Dambusters Raid

An attack by Royal Air Force 617 Squadron on German dams using bouncing bombs...

Read More

Road Research Laboratory

Established by the British government. During World War II it contributed to ...

Read More

Sir Barnes Wallis

Designer and engineer. Born Barnes Neville Wallis in Ripley, Derbyshire. He w...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Road Research Laboratory

Created by i

London Borough of Hillingdon

The borough was formed in 1965 from the Municipal Borough of Uxbridge, Hayes ...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Road Research Laboratory

Also at this site i

Sir Barnes Wallis - Harmondsworth

Sir Barnes Wallis - Harmondsworth

We initially thought that Upkeep, Highball, Tallboy and Grand Slam were all v...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

River Effra - Rattray Road

River Effra - Rattray Road

SW2, Rattray Road jnctn

The plaque is in the pavement in front of the pillar box.

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Hippodrome - Harry Houdini

Hippodrome - Harry Houdini

WC2, Cranbourn Street, Hippodrome casino

The plaque refers to the London Daily Mirror newspaper which challenged Houdini to escape from special handcuffs. On 17 March 1904 durin...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Christopher Wade

Christopher Wade

NW3, Willoughby Road, 28

Erected between May 2017 and March 2019.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Edith Cavell plaque

Edith Cavell plaque

E2, Kingsland Road

Cavell was executed by the Germans in Brussels and she figures on our sister site, BrusselsRemembers.

War dead | WW1
2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Harrison Ford - frame - Elstree and Borehamwood Station

Harrison Ford - frame - Elstree and Borehamwood Station

WD6, Allum Lane, Station forecourt

The plaques are around the station forecourt, either on frames or laid into the pavement. The gold lettering on the marble effect on the ...

1 subject commemorated