Memorial Sir Wallis Barnes & Road Research Laboratory

The Road Research Laboratory was created by the British government, it played a vital role during World War II, conducting groundbreaking research that led to innovations such as plastic armour and the bouncing bomb used in the Dambusters Raid. In 1992, it transitioned to an executive agency of the UK Department for Transport under the name Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) and was later privatised in 1996.

The laboratory stood on the Colnbrook Bypass, located just south of the memorial.

Panel #1 with text:
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.
Hillingdon London

Panel #2 with text:
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.
Hillingdon London

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Source

• Text: TracesofWar
• Photos: Derek Harper
• London Remembers