An unidentified Lancaster bomber attacking a railway bridge in Germany (perhaps near Hamburg), 1945. In February and March 1945 the specialist squadrons of Bomber Command, Nos 617 and 9 Squadrons RAF, with aircraft adapted to take the so-called massive 'earthquake' bombs developed by British scientist Barnes Wallis, were sent against a series of railway bridges and viaducts leading out of the Ruhr manufacturing region of west Germany. As the western Allies grouped themselves to cross the Rhine, these bridges were seen as vital supply links from the armaments industry of the Ruhr. On 19 March 1945 the No. 463 Squadron RAAF, RAF Production Unit aircraft, captained by Flight Lieutenant Thomas Perry, filmed as No. 617 Squadron dropped massive 'Tallboy' five-ton bombs on the Arnsberg viaduct. Perry reported 'Saw Tallboy hit the western span and the whole span disintegrated and roofs and houses disappeared'. RAAF Flying Officer John Spiers, piloting a No. 617 Squadron Lancaster, saw his Tallboy hit the right side of the Arnsberg bridge at the tunnel end. Perry also filmed the most massive conventional bomb of the war, a Grand Slam 10-ton bomb, as it hurtled to earth, striking the western end of the Arnsberg viaduct—'felt slight vibration at 13,000 feet [4000 metres]'. [No. 463 Squadron RAAF, Operations Record Book, 19 March 1945; AWM P00811.035]
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