Sir Barnes Wallis CBE FRS
(1887-1979)

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Fellow of the Royal Society, pioneer of aircraft design, and Knight Bachelor (from 1968)

Died aged c. 92

Sir Barnes Neville Wallis CBE FRS RDI FRAeS (26 September 1887 – 30 October 1979) was an English scientist, engineer and inventor. He is best known for inventing the bouncing bomb used by the Royal Air Force in Operation Chastise (the "Dambusters" raid) to attack the dams of the Ruhr Valley during World War II. The raid was the subject of the 1955 film The Dam Busters, in which Wallis was played by Michael Redgrave. Among his other inventions were his version of the geodetic airframe and the earthquake bomb.

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Commemorated on 4 plaques

Sir Barnes Wallis CBE, FRS 1887-1979 Pioneer of aircraft design lived here 1892-1909

241 New Cross Road, Lewisham, London, United Kingdom where they lived

Sir Barnes N. Wallis (1887-1979) Aeronautical engineer and inventor, designer of airships, aeroplanes, the 'Bouncing Bomb' and swing-wing aircraft was born here

43 Butterley Hill, Ripley, United Kingdom where they was born (1887)

Sir Barnes Neville Wallis CBE FRS RDI FRAeS 1887-1979. Designer of R100 airship, geodetic construction, Upkeep, Highball, Tallboy and Grand Slam bombs. Pioneer of swing-wing and tailless aircraft and hypersonic flight

Moor Lane, Harmondsworth, London, United Kingdom where they worked

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

Moor Lane, Harmondsworth, London, United Kingdom where they worked