70 years ago today at 9.28pm on 16 May 1943, the first of 19 Lancaster heavy bombers lifted off from RAF Scampton at the start of the Dambusters Raid on the Ruhr dams in Germany. Immortalised by the Dambusters film and famous theme tune the bombers used the 'bouncing bomb' invented by Sir Barnes Wallis - a New Cross resident from 1892 - 1909.
Barnes Wallis was commemorated by the unveiling of a Lewisham Maroon Plaque at his former home at 241 New Cross Road on 29 September 1984. You can see images of the unveiling on our Picasa web album site
The wording of the plaque reads "Sir Barnes Wallis C.B.E. F.R.S., 1887-1979, Pioneer of
aircraft design, lived here, 1892-1909"
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