A historic World War Two Highball bomb that has not seen the light of day for over 70 years has gone on display in Macclesfield, thanks to the committed efforts of East Cheshire Sub Aqua Club, as local MP David Rutley learned on a recent visit.
At a well-attended event organised by the Club, David and over one hundred other attendees learned about the thorough and detailed planning that went into the dives to recover two bombs in June this year, and the planning that took place, over a two-year period, to execute the meticulous operation to raise the 650-kilogram Highball bombs from the loch bed, supported by the Royal Navy’s Mine Clearance Team aboard the SS Moorfowl. The expedition was sponsored by East Cheshire Sub Aqua Club, and other diving groups from across the UK.
In addition to the two bombs obtained by East Cheshire Sub Aqua Club, the Royal Navy also recovered a third. The three recovered bombs are currently undergoing restoration, and will be placed on display in British museums, in time for the 75th anniversary of the Dambuster raid in 2018. One of the bombs remains in the care of East Cheshire Sub Aqua Club and is destined for the Barnes Wallis Collection at Brooklands Museum in Surrey. Since being lifted, the bombs have been kept in a special salt solution to prevent corrosion, using similar methods as those applied to help preserve the Mary Rose. The proceeds from the event organised by Club will contribute towards the wider restoration work of the two Highballs.
The Highballs were the Royal Navy’s version of the cylindrical shaped ‘Upkeep’ bouncing bombs used by the Royal Air Force in the Dambusters raid in May 1943, both designed by Sir Barnes Wallis to bounce over water, and intended for use against enemy ships. Over 200 of the bombs, given the military codename ‘Highball’, were tested at Loch Striven, Argyll. As test bombs, they did not contain explosives and nor, ultimately, did they become operational, and the bombs lie scattered on the floor of the Loch to this day.
As well as the raising of two bombs, the expedition surveyed the location of over 100 others on the bed of Loch Striven, providing valuable historical information, and creating new ‘dive trails’ for other sub aqua clubs to use in Loch Striven in the future. East Cheshire Sub Aqua Club would be very happy to share this information with other clubs wishing to visit the site, and can be contacted via its website www.ecsac.org.uk
Speaking after the event, David said, “It was an honour to meet with members of Macclesfield Sub Aqua Club and to hear about the logistics of the remarkable expedition. It was clear that the Club was deeply committed to this project and the history behind it, and I am pleased that the important artefacts were brought to Macclesfield for local residents to see, before going on display in museums, to be preserved for future generations. I would like to say a big thank you to the Club for all their hard work in making this possible.”