Dambusters (AU) - Episode 1

Summary

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Harold's Old Time Radio: Dambusters (AU) – Episode 1

Aired: April 25, 2026

Episode Overview

The premiere episode of "Dambusters," dramatized from Paul Brickhill’s account and adapted by Morris West, follows the real-life story of engineer Barnes Wallis in his quest to develop a bomb capable of breaching critical German dams during WWII. Set in 1939 and the early years of the war, this episode vividly portrays the obstacles, skepticism, and bureaucracy Wallis confronts in his mission to deliver a decisive blow to the enemy’s infrastructure. The episode deftly combines historical exposition, character-driven dialogue, and moments of irony and frustration—immersing listeners in the tense, inventive atmosphere of wartime Britain.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Outbreak of WWII and Strategic Planning

• The episode opens on the eve of war with Barnes Wallis and his colleague listening to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announce that Britain is at war with Germany (02:04).
• Wallis immediately turns his attention to the critical infrastructure that powers a nation's military capabilities—oil, coal, steel, and, importantly, water power (03:36).

  “If we can deprive an enemy of oil and coal and power, we strike at his very heart.”
  – Barnes Wallis (04:17)

2. The Vision for a “Dam Buster” Bomb

• Wallis critiques conventional bombing as inadequate and dreams aloud of a new explosive device capable of breaching Germany’s industrial dams:
  • The Mona, Eder, and Sorpe dams are highlighted as targets that could cripple German industry by disrupting water supply (05:47).

  “If you could destroy the Mona Dam and the other two, the Ada and the Sauper, you could cripple the German armament industry overnight.”
  – Barnes Wallis (05:47)

3. Bureaucratic Obstacles & Skepticism

• Wallis faces repeated disbelief and ridicule from government officials and colleagues who dismiss his idea as unfeasible or “crackpot” (07:03, 09:03).

• In a crucial scene, Jackson offers tea and biscuits instead of serious consideration for Wallis’s innovation, highlighting the inertia and triviality of officialdom (09:01).

  “You offer me tea and biscuits.”
  – Barnes Wallis (09:03)

• Wallis is further frustrated by the slow, convoluted process of getting ideas noticed in large organizations.

  “I'm sick and tired of tinpot officials who are trying to fight a war with typewriters and teacups.”
  – Barnes Wallis’s Assistant or Colleague (24:49)

4. Demonstrating the Science Behind the Concept

• Wallis draws parallels between the destructive power of shockwaves in concrete piles at Waterloo Bridge and what a properly designed bomb could do to a dam (10:30).

  “...the shockwave was sent down the pile by the impact... then it bounced back up... Result, a tension... which shattered it in exactly the same way as this bomb... would shatter the concrete retaining wall of a dam.”
  – Barnes Wallis (10:44)

• Wallis undertakes backyard experiments and doles out technical requests to colleagues, demonstrating his relentless pursuit (11:33, 19:57).

5. Moments of Irony and Frustration

• After mass-mailing his report to key officials, Wallis is picked up by a Scotland Yard officer, accused of risking national security—before being ironically told the document is "vitally secret, vitally important" (15:32).

  “Do you know, Commissioner, that's very encouraging... Vitally secret? Vitally important. Do you know what, Commissioner? I presented that report to more than 50 officials... more than half have dismissed it as scatterbrained humbugs.”
  – Barnes Wallis (15:45)

• Lord Beaverbrook finally acknowledges Wallis, but only when pressured, still expressing doubts about disrupting ongoing production for “moonshot” theories (19:13).

6. A Ray of Hope: Sir Henry Tizard’s Support

• At last, Sir Henry Tizard recognizes the significance of Wallis’s idea and suggests practical steps: small-scale model dam tests leading up to real-life trials (27:13).

  “We'll leave the bomb out of it for the moment. The first thing we've got to do is to find out how much explosive it takes to crack the wall of a dam. If the explosive is placed anywhere near the wall and under the water.”
  – Sir Henry Tizard (27:31)

• This sets the stage for development and experimentation, offering Wallis the official backing necessary to start tangible trials.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Barnes Wallis responds to the war announcement:

  “All of us better get back to work or the lights will never shine again.”
  (03:05)

• Debate on effectiveness of bombing razing infrastructure:

  “Blanket bombing is a waste, a criminal waste of men, machines and armament.”
  – Barnes Wallis (05:32)

• Wallis’s dry wit upon arrest:

  “Do you know, Commissioner, that's very encouraging... Vitally secret? Vitally important.”
  (15:45)

• Sir Charles’s summary after a Luftwaffe raid:

  “Seven direct hits were scored on our Vicar's works... there’s been no loss of life... we shall be in full production tomorrow morning.”
  (23:36)

• Wallis, undeterred after rejection:

  “Seven 250 pound bombs and we haven't even fought it in our stride.”
  (24:16)
  “No, sir. We won't knock him out either.”
  (24:24)

• Sir Henry Tizard’s encouragement:

  “If you can bring out this first part of it, Wallace, you'll at least have a chance of getting what you want. And from there on, well, you'll...”
  (28:17)

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Key Timestamps

• 02:04 — Chamberlain declares war.
• 03:36 — Wallis discusses targeting the “sources of power.”
• 05:47 — “Cripple the German armament industry overnight.”
• 09:03 — Wallis has his proposal trivialized (tea and biscuits scene).
• 10:44 — Waterloo Bridge shockwave analogy.
• 15:32 — Wallis is interrogated at Scotland Yard.
• 17:12 — Lord Beaverbrook finally calls Wallis to London.
• 19:13 — Wallis lays out his plan for a 10,000-pound bomb.
• 23:36 — Factory survives the German air raid.
• 24:16–24:24 — Wallis highlights ineffectiveness of current bombing strategy.
• 27:13–28:01 — Sir Henry Tizard proposes small dam demo tests.

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Conclusion

Tone & Feel:
True to the Golden Age radio tradition, "Dambusters – Episode 1" combines urgency, dry British wit, and a sense of ingenuity-within-adversity. The script oscillates between biting humor and frustration, ultimately paying tribute to determination in the face of bureaucracy and war.

For new listeners:
This episode is an engaging entry point into the story of one of WWII’s most audacious technical feats, dramatizing not just the science but the stubborn humanity needed to change the course of history.

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Transcript

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[Narrator]

To the men, living and dead who did these things, we dedicate this program the Dam Busters. Presented by the author himself, Paul Brickhill. Dramatized by Morris West An Australasian radio product.

[Paul Brickhill]

Good evening. This is Paul Brickhill. This story begins in September 1939 in a designer's office at the Vickers Armstrong's aircraft worked at Weybridge, near London. There are two men in the room. One is Barnes Wallace, aircraft designer for Vickers. The other is one of his senior colleagues. They are listening on a small portable radio to the voice of Nibble Chamberlain, Prime Minister of England.

[Neville Chamberlain]

This morning, the British ambassador in Berlin handed the German government a final note stating that unless we heard from them by 11 o' clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received and that consequently, this country is at war with Germany.

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

Well, Wallace, that's that.

[Barnes Wallace]

As you say, that's that. Well, I better get back to work.

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

Wallace, you're the oddest fellow I've ever known. The lights of Europe have been dust for a second time in a generation. All you can say is, I better get back to work. Besides, today's Sunday. By rights, we shouldn't be here at all.

[Barnes Wallace]

All of us better get back to work or the lights will never shine again.

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

Yes, I. Yes, I see what you mean. What are you working on?

[Barnes Wallace]

Still on this confounded tail plane for the Warwick. It's more tricky than I thought, so we'll get it right.

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

Well, I'll. I'll see you later.

[Barnes Wallace]

Oh, no, no, no. Don't go. For a minute, there was something I wanted to ask you. What's that? Yeah. Sit down. You like? Cigarette?

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

No, thanks. What's on your mind, Wallace?

[Barnes Wallace]

I. I've been thinking about this war. Thinking about the last one too. Trying to analyze what are the. The Sources of a nation's power. What?

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

Military power.

[Barnes Wallace]

Military power, economic power, political power.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

It's all one.

[Barnes Wallace]

Armies, air forces, navies are made up of men. Men, machines and weapons. But men have to be fed. Machines have to be built and maintained. What gets them built? What feeds them and keeps them going?

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

Agriculture for food, coal, oil, steel, water, Power.

[Barnes Wallace]

Right. Let's take these things one by one. If we can deprive an enemy of oil and coal and power, we strike at his very heart.

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

That's elementary, my dear Wallace. Textbook stuff.

[Barnes Wallace]

And perhaps we should start re reading the textbooks. Look out there. That production line of ours will be working 24 hours a day turning out Wellington bombers.

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

Well, they're good craft, aren't they? You. You designed them.

[Barnes Wallace]

It's not the aircraft I'm thinking about, it's the bombs.

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

What are you driving at?

[Barnes Wallace]

Just this. The biggest bomb available in this country today is a 500 pounder. Its filling is amatol, a second rate explosive. And each 500 pounder carries only 125 pounds of charge.

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

You can do a devil of a lot of damage with 125lbs of amatol.

[Barnes Wallace]

Could you wreck a coal mine with it?

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

Well, no, not unless you dropped it down the spout, as it were.

[Barnes Wallace]

Exactly. You could drop one on the Battersea Power Station. And unless you were dead on a

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

vulnerable spot, you'd even cause a flicker

[Barnes Wallace]

in London's power supply. The same with oil installations. You can damage surface plant, disrupt activity, but you don't touch the potential.

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

Oh, no. But if you use blanket bombing.

[Barnes Wallace]

Blanket bombing is a waste, a criminal waste of men, machines and armament.

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

Then what is the answer?

[Barnes Wallace]

Here, look at this. Do you know what that is?

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

Well, it looks familiar.

[Barnes Wallace]

That's a photograph of the Mona damage, which supplies one third of the watering part of the whole of the Ruhr. Do you know that to make a ton of steel in the Ruhr, you need eight tons of water? If you could destroy the Mona Dam and the other two, the Ada and the Sauper, you could cripple the German armament industry overnight. What?

[Barnes Wallace's Colleague]

Blow up the Mohna Dam with a bomb? Wallace, you're crazy. You can't mean it.

[Barnes Wallace]

I do mean it. That's what we need and that's what we've got to get. A bomb that will blow up the Mona Dam. A dam buster.

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

Oh, I say, Charles, come off it. This is the Ministry of Aircraft Production, not the Wavy Navy. We have to work for our money. But I'll tell you what, if you could pick me up at 4:30. Oh, no, no, it isn't possible, dear boy. I've got somebody coming to see me in a few minutes. Boffin type, you know, Name of Chalice Wallace. No, I don't know. All these inventors look the same and they're all as mad as hatters. Mmm.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

Yeah.

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

That's all right, Charles. See you at 4:30. Goodbye.

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[Dale (Framing Contractor)]

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[Dale (Framing Contractor)]

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[Dale (Framing Contractor)]

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[Dale (Framing Contractor)]

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[Barnes Wallace]

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[Jackson (Office Worker)]

How did you get in here?

[Barnes Wallace]

The young lady showed me. And I have an appointment. Oh, yes.

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

You're Mr. Chalice Wallace.

[Barnes Wallace]

Oh, yes, yes.

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

Like a cup of tea?

[Barnes Wallace]

Thank you, yes. You've read my notes?

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

Your notes?

[Barnes Wallace]

Oh, yes, yes.

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

Have them here, right under my hand. Very interesting. Very ingenious.

[Barnes Wallace]

I'm glad of that. Well, what are you going to do about them?

[Maisie (Household Staff)]

Do?

[Barnes Wallace]

I'm afraid we can't do anything.

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

I mean, a damn buster bomb is all right and fear.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

If the theory's right, it must work in practice.

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

Yes, yes, I suppose it must.

[Barnes Wallace]

Sure.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

Go on. Two lumps or one?

[Barnes Wallace]

None, thanks. Now, as I pointed out in my

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

notes, the three principal problems are the weight of the bomb, the design of

[Barnes Wallace]

the aircraft to carry it and the

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

problem of aiming the bomb.

[Barnes Wallace]

Aiming it?

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

Oh, yes, yes, of course. Very important. Biscuit?

[Barnes Wallace]

No, thank you. What?

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

You must understand, my dear fellow.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

I'm not your dear fellow. I put before you a perfectly logical thesis on the Design, construction and delivery of a 10,000 pound bomb capable of breaching three of the principal dams in Germany. And you. You offer me tea and biscuits.

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

What you understand, Mr. Wallace, is that there are channels, methods of approach. And besides, if I'd known you didn't like tea.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

To the devil with your tea, sir. And your biscuits, too. Give me my notes. See if I can find someone who doesn't talk like a congenital idiot.

[Barnes Wallace]

Good day, sir.

[Narrator]

My dear Wallace, for my own part, I am more than prepared to accept both your figures and your conclusions.

[Barnes Wallace]

Meaning that other people won't.

[Narrator]

How many of our brains trust can read a simple memorandum, let alone an intricate set of calculations?

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

What do we do about it?

[Barnes Wallace]

Surely, Tidder, you have some influence.

[Narrator]

Yeah, Vice marshals, a tuppence a dozen. But I do have a lot of friends. I'll talk to some of them. You have to leave it with me for a while, I'm afraid. You know how these things are done.

[Barnes Wallace]

I know only too well how these things are done. But it's a comfort to know there's someone who doesn't think I'm just another crack potted inventor.

[Narrator]

You know, wallet.

[Paul Brickhill]

If.

[Narrator]

If there was some way you could demonstrate your conclusions. Actions speak louder than words.

[Barnes Wallace]

They've been demonstrated already.

[Narrator]

How?

[Barnes Wallace]

When? Back in 1935, when they were building Waterloo Bridge, the engineers found that the concrete piles were no sooner driven into the mud than they shattered. That's the exact word. Shattered. Why? Well, putting it simply, the shock wave

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

was sent down the pile by the

[Barnes Wallace]

impact of the pile driver. Then it bounced back up the pile as soon as it hit the clay at the bottom.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

Result, a tension was created in the

[Barnes Wallace]

concrete which shattered it in exactly the

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

same way as this bomb which I've

[Barnes Wallace]

described would shatter the concrete retaining wall of a dam. You. You'll find it all in the journal of the Civil Engineering Institute.

[Narrator]

Yes, which brings us back to our first problem. How many of our colleagues can read?

[Barnes Wallace]

Leave it with me.

[Narrator]

I'll see what sort of interest I can stir up. Meantime, if you could think up a

[Barnes Wallace]

way of demonstrating, I. I'll think about it. Thanks, T.

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

It's the truth, I tell you. If you'd seen him, you'd think the old boffin had gone crazy. There he was in his backyard with all these children, tossing a chunk of broomstick handle into a tub of water. He never seemed such a mess when I spoke to him. It was quite odd. So odd that I decided to leave him to it. He's been pestering every one of the

[Barnes Wallace]

departments for weeks now.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

Some crazy idea or other. They've had him, I can tell you.

[Barnes Wallace]

Oh, here he comes now.

[Narrator]

Oh.

[Barnes Wallace]

Oh, good morning, gentlemen. Oh, good morning. Can I have a cup of tea, Maisie?

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

How's the tail plane coming along, Wallace?

[Barnes Wallace]

Oh, the tail plane. Oh, fine, fine. I've ironed out all the bugs. By the way, Jackson.

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

Yes?

[Barnes Wallace]

What can I do for you? Do you think one of your office girls could do a job for me? What sort of job? Typing and duplicating. How long is it? About 70 pages of full skep. 100 copies. Well, it's a tall order, but I

[Police Commissioner]

suppose I can arrange it.

[Barnes Wallace]

Good, good. I'll send it over this afternoon. See they make a good job of it, won't you? I'm sending it out to a lot of important people.

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

What, another plan to win the war?

[Barnes Wallace]

Not exactly, but it could shorten it. I'll see you later.

[Jackson (Office Worker)]

Now I've heard everything and I know he's going crazy.

[Sir Henry Tizard]

Oh.

[Barnes Wallace]

Oh, my dear.

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

What is it, darling?

[Barnes Wallace]

Have you seen that? That projectile of mine? The one I was using in the garden last Saturday?

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

Oh, you mean that piece of broomstick?

[Barnes Wallace]

What?

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

I'm sorry I threw it out. Did it mean something?

[Barnes Wallace]

Oh, dear, it was quite a nuisance. She had to carve another one.

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

I'm sorry, dear. I didn't realize. I thought it was. Who could be calling it this hour on Saturday morning, too? I shan't be a moment, dear.

[Barnes Wallace]

Excuse me, ma'. Am. Is Mr. Barnes Wallace at home, please?

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

Yes. Won't you come in?

[Barnes Wallace]

Who is that?

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

A gentleman to see you, Barnes, dear.

[Barnes Wallace]

Oh, I wasn't expecting visitors. Oh, Mr. Wallace? That's right. My name's Jenna, sir. There's Special Branch, Scotland Yard. Do you think I could see you for a few minutes alone? Certainly. Excuse us, my dear.

[Maisie (Household Staff)]

I'll be in the kitchen.

[Barnes Wallace]

Now, Mr. Jenner, what can I do for you? A gentleman in the Department of Aircraft Production received this document in the mail. Do you recognize it? Yes, yes, I do. I wrote it and posted it myself. Oh, I see, sir. Is there anything wrong in that? Yes, sir. I'm afraid there is. Well, then, what's wrong? Ar, mate? I'm sorry, sir, but I must ask you to come with me to Scotland Yard.

[Paul Brickhill]

It was a devastating piece of irony that Barnes Wallace, the man who designed the R100, the most successful British dirigible, the Wellesley and the Wellington bombers, should be sure to be taken in charge by a plain clothes policeman and hustled off to Scotland Yard. But Barnes Wallace was a Man untouched by irony. And he sat through the long drive and the longer minutes of waiting with an air of faint puzzlement, which deepened when he was ushered into a drab room and closely questioned by a deputy Commissioner.

[Police Commissioner]

You are Mr. Barnes Wallace?

[Barnes Wallace]

That's right.

[Police Commissioner]

You are a chief designer at Vickers Limited at Weybridge?

[Barnes Wallace]

That's right.

[Police Commissioner]

As such, you are in possession of a great deal of highly secret information. Information of extraordinary value to the enemy.

[Barnes Wallace]

Well, yes. Yes, I suppose I am.

[Police Commissioner]

You are the author of this report on a project for the breaching of three important hydroelectric dams in Germany.

[Barnes Wallace]

Yes.

[Police Commissioner]

And yet I understand that you committed to the mails more than 70 copies of this vitally secret and vitally important document.

[Barnes Wallace]

Do you know, Commissioner, that's very encouraging. I. I beg your pardon? Vitally secret? Vitally important. Do you know what, Commissioner?

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

I presented that report to more than 50 officials in a dozen different departments. More than half of them have dismissed it as scatterbrained humbugs.

[Barnes Wallace]

So?

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

So you see, I'm quite encouraged by your reception.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

Oh, I see.

[Police Commissioner]

Why did you post these copies?

[Barnes Wallace]

It was a gesture, Commissioner.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

A final attempt to discover one man in England who was capable of reading a simple argument and accepting my figures for what they are. The work of a responsible and reputable scientist.

[Police Commissioner]

Well, in that case, Mr. Wallace, I'm in a difficult position. I must caution you against the possible consequences of broadcasting information like this. And at the same time, I'd like

[Barnes Wallace]

to wish you luck. Thank you, Commissioner. At the moment, I think I need a blasted miracle. Oh, confound it.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

Wallace here. Don't you know that I've repeatedly given orders that no phone calls are to be put through to me?

[Maisie (Household Staff)]

I'm sorry, sir, but it's Lord Beaverbrook.

[Barnes Wallace]

What's that you said?

[Maisie (Household Staff)]

Lord Beaverbrook, sir. Shall I put him through?

[Sir Charles Craven]

Yes.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

Yes, of course, girl.

[Maisie (Household Staff)]

Lord Beaverbrook is waiting, sir.

[Barnes Wallace]

Hello?

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

This is Barnes Wallace.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

Oh, Wallace, this is Beaverbrook. How long will it take you to get up to London?

[Barnes Wallace]

When, sir? Tomorrow?

[Lord Beaverbrook]

Oh, confound it.

[Factory Announcer]

Today.

[Barnes Wallace]

Oh, well, sir, allowing for hold up, say two hours.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

Make it an hour and a half. I'll be expecting you. Goodbye.

[Barnes Wallace]

Goodbye. Goodbye, sir. Beaver Brook. Beaverbrook. Now we are really getting somewhere.

[Maisie (Household Staff)]

His Lordship will see you now, Mr. Wallace. Come this way, please.

[Barnes Wallace]

Thank you. It's very good of you to see me, sir.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

Sit down, man. Sit down.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

I've brought some notes, sir.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

Notes? Notes? I don't know anything about notes. I want to know how quickly you can leave for America.

[Barnes Wallace]

I don't understand, sir.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

America I. I thought you wanted to see me.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

I want to see you about an immediate flight to America. The purpose of your visit will be to investigate the work being done on the use of pressurized cabins for high flying aircraft. I understand the Americans have made great strikes.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

There's no need to go to America for that, sir.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

What's that you say? What do you mean, no need to go to America?

[Sir Charles Craven]

I'm telling you.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

I'm telling you, sir, that we have here in England all the data on the construction and use of pressurized aircraft. And that in all respects we're keeping face with Americans if we're not actually ahead of them. I can give you all the information you want in 24 hours.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

Oh, well, thank God for a man who knows his business. I'll hold you to that, Wallace. I want all the information on my desk in 24 hours.

[Barnes Wallace]

You'll have it, sir.

[Geico Commercial Auto Insurance Announcer]

Good.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

Now, you wanted to see me about something? Have to make it brief.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

Well, for the past three months I've been trying to get someone in authority to examine my project for the breaching of the three principal dams in the Ruhr district by heavy bombs dropped from aircraft.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

What's that to say? Breach the dams?

[Barnes Wallace]

You mean.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

I mean the Murna, the ADA and the Sauper. If we could breach those dams, we could flood the whole countryside. Disrupt the heavy armament industry.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

I know exactly what we could do. If we could reach the dams, we could do it.

[Barnes Wallace]

All right, sir. You'll find it all there in my report.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

I'll read it later. Tell me in plain words what you need.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

A 10,000 pound bomb and an aircraft

[Barnes Wallace]

capable of carrying it.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

Yes, we'd like a slice of the moon, too.

[Barnes Wallace]

It could be done, sir.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

All right, I'll take your word for that. But don't you see, Wallace? We're so far behind, we'll have to disrupt the whole program of production.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

It would still be worth it, sir. Besides, we can do it in stages. I've got drawings for 2 ton and 6 ton bombs on the same principle. My Wellingtons can carry a two tonner and the new four engine ones can

[Barnes Wallace]

carry the six tonner.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

They'll be operating in a year.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

I'll see my experts about it. But if we have to divert too much efforts, I don't like your chances. Let me have those other reports in 24 hours.

[Barnes Wallace]

Good day, Wallace.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

Hello, George. Wallace here. I want your boys to get some information for me. I. I want a shell casing to carry 5,000 pounds of explosive and to be able to withstand the Shock of impact at a thousand miles an hour. Yes, yes, yes, I know it's crazy but I want you to tell me whether it can be done. Hello, Andy, it's Wallace here. I want some figures on bomb aiming. Is it possible for a bomb aimer to pick up a small target from 40,000ft? What's the minimum size for visibility at that height? What allowances must be made for wind deflection. Yes, yes, I know it's pinpointing but you are working on it and I'd like the latest information you've got as quickly as possible.

[Sir Henry Tizard]

Hello?

[Barnes Wallace]

Hello.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

Research library. Wallace here. I want you to chase up this one as quickly as you can. Now, In World War I there was a landmine exploded under Messines Ridge.

[Barnes Wallace]

That's right.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

M E double S I N E S. The shockwave was recorded in Castle Miles away. See if you can dig me out any information on it. Yes, as soon as you can.

[Barnes Wallace]

Thank you.

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

It's 11 o', clock, darling. Don't you think you should go to bed?

[Barnes Wallace]

No, no, I'll wait up a little while. I'm expecting a ring from Craven. He's going to see Beaverbrook today and try to get some action on this project of mine. He told me he'd be back late but I said I'd wait up.

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

How's it going, dear? Are you getting anywhere?

[Barnes Wallace]

As far as my end is concerned I'm getting further every day. I've got enough information to prove 10 times over the thing can be done. As far as the others are concerned I. I don't know. I thought Beaverbrook would do something but. Well, we'll just have to wait until Sir Charles Craven rings.

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

I'll make you a cup of tea. Oh, there it is now.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

I'll take it.

[Barnes Wallace]

Hello, Wallace here.

[Tizard's Assistant or Office Worker]

Hello, Wallace. This is Craven.

[Barnes Wallace]

Yes, sir.

[Tizard's Assistant or Office Worker]

I saw Beaverbrook today as I promised. Yes, the policy of the Air Council is definitely against large bombs. They regret that they can give you no further support to your proposal.

[Geico Commercial Auto Insurance Announcer]

I.

[Barnes Wallace]

I see. Thank you for ringing, sir. Good night.

[Lord Beaverbrook]

I'm sorry.

[Tizard's Assistant or Office Worker]

Good night, Wallace.

[Factory Announcer]

Attention all personnel. Attention all personnel. A large force of enemy bombers is approaching Weybridge. It is believed that their target is this factory. Switch off all power supplies and proceed to shelters immediately. Attention all personnel. Switch off all power supplies and proceed to shelters immediately. Fire wardens take up their posts. Fire wardens take up their posts.

[Sir Charles Craven]

Well gentlemen, that's very good news. In spite of the fact that seven direct hits were were scored on our Vicar's works. Only 24 out of 500 machines were put out of action. Of these, only two have been seriously damaged. There's been no loss of life. I should like to convey my congratulations to the staff on their cool and competent behavior and to tell them that we shall be in full production tomorrow morning. That is all, gentlemen. Thank you.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

Could I see your moment, Sir Charles?

[Sir Charles Craven]

Oh, yes, certainly, Wallace. What can I do for you?

[Barnes Wallace]

Seven direct hits, wasn't it, sir?

[Sir Charles Craven]

Yes, that's right. And we'll be back in full production tomorrow. Wonderful, isn't it?

[Barnes Wallace]

Yes, sir. Seven 250 pound bombs and we haven't even fought it in our stride.

[Sir Charles Craven]

Jerry'll never knock us out of the

[Barnes Wallace]

war at that rate. No, sir. We won't knock him out either. What's that you say? Oh. Oh, I. I see.

[Sir Charles Craven]

You're a stubborn devil, aren't you, Wallace?

[Barnes Wallace]

Am I, sir? Well, I better be getting back to work.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

I'm sick and tired of tinpot officials who are trying to fight a war with typewriters and teacups.

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

Yes, dear.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

I'm sick and tired of bungling incompetents who sit behind their desks and dictate nemos to each other about sweet Fanny Adams.

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

Yes, dear.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

I'm sick and tired of men who call themselves engineers and scientists who can't read a simple equation.

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

Yes, dear. You'll wake the children.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

I'm sorry. I seem to have come to a dead end.

[Barnes Wallace]

My dear, I've done everything possible to demonstrate the project theoretically, but I can't

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

get anyone interested enough to make even a few practical experiments.

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

Well, dear, I suppose they're frightened of the money involved.

[Barnes Wallace]

Money?

[Sir Henry Tizard]

Money.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

If you could see the criminal waste of public money.

[Barnes Wallace]

Oh, dear. Let's have a cup of tea and go to bed.

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

Yes, dear. Oh, I'm sorry. I almost forgot. Somebody rang for you just before dinner. He left a number and asked you to ring back.

[Barnes Wallace]

Oh, what was his name?

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

Summerley? No, no. Winterbottom Group kept in Winterbottom. It's a city number.

[Barnes Wallace]

Oh, there's not much point in ringing back now. Everybody still goes home at 5 o' clock in the city. In spite of the fact that there's a war on.

[Barnes Wallace's Wife]

I don't think so, dear. This gentleman said he'd be in all the evening.

[Barnes Wallace]

Oh, there's a change. Anyway. I'll ring him back while you're making the tea.

[Maisie (Household Staff)]

The number's on the pad.

[Barnes Wallace]

Yeah, I've got it.

[Tizard's Assistant or Office Worker]

Winterbottom here.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

This is Barnes.

[Sir Charles Craven]

Wallace.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

You telephoned me earlier.

[Barnes Wallace]

I didn't get your message until just now.

[Tizard's Assistant or Office Worker]

That's all right. Good of you to ring. I was wondering if I could come down and see you tomorrow.

[Barnes Wallace]

Oh, I. I'm afraid not. I've got a very heavy day tomorrow. What did you want to see me about?

[Tizard's Assistant or Office Worker]

You. You wrote a little fairy tale some time ago.

[Narrator]

I did?

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

Yes.

[Tizard's Assistant or Office Worker]

I've got a copy of it on my desk. We're interesting.

[Barnes Wallace]

Who's we? Lunet is on Tizard Aircraft Production.

[Tizard's Assistant or Office Worker]

That's right. I. I work for him.

[Sir Charles Craven]

Oh.

[Barnes Wallace]

Then come on down, my dear fellow. Come on down.

[Barnes Wallace's Assistant or Colleague]

I'll keep the whole day for you.

[Barnes Wallace]

Well, there it is, gentlemen. All the general data, all my figures. What do you think of it? It's up to Sir Henry Tizard.

[Tizard's Assistant or Office Worker]

I'm just the office boy.

[Barnes Wallace]

Well, Sir Henry. I like it, Wallace.

[Sir Henry Tizard]

I like it very well.

[Barnes Wallace]

Thank God for that.

[Sir Henry Tizard]

You've had a tough time, I know, but I'll try to help you on this. Not out of the wood yet, of course. You've got to prove it.

[Barnes Wallace]

Well, I can't prove it. Without a bomb and an aircraft to

[Sir Henry Tizard]

drop it, it may be possible.

[Barnes Wallace]

Go on, Sir Henry.

[Sir Henry Tizard]

We'll leave the bomb out of it for the moment. The first thing we've got to do is to find out how much explosive it takes to crack the wall of a dam. If the explosive is placed anywhere near the wall and under the water.

[Barnes Wallace]

That's right.

[Sir Henry Tizard]

Once we've done that, we can proceed to the bomb part of it. Constructing, delivering, etc.

[Tizard's Assistant or Office Worker]

Where do we get a dam, sir?

[Sir Henry Tizard]

We build one. A little one and a bigger one, and a bigger one still. And then.

[Barnes Wallace]

Yes, Sir Henry.

[Sir Henry Tizard]

If you can blow the little dams with scaled down explosive, then we'll get you a big one. A real one.

[Barnes Wallace]

I. I'm sorry, Sir Henry, but where do we get a reel there?

[Sir Henry Tizard]

We'll borrow one. At least three that aren't being used. One up near Birmingham, for instance. If you can blow that one up, you've really accomplished something.

[Barnes Wallace]

That still doesn't build us a bomb or an aircraft.

[Sir Henry Tizard]

If you can bring out this first part of it, Wallace, you'll at least have a chance of getting what you want. And from there on, well, you'll.

[Barnes Wallace]

Sam.