Celebrate the 80th anniversary of the iconic raid by RAF 617 Squadron thereafter known as the 'Dambusters' with this stunning 50p coin featuring a full colour print.
These are the first ever official RAF issue coins to feature the portrait of King Charles III. They are licensed with the RAF and bear the official RAF logo making them a perfect collectors item.
Barnes Wallis was a British engineer and inventor who designed the bouncing bomb used by the Dambusters Squadron during World War II. The bomb, officially known as the Upkeep bomb, was designed to bounce along the surface of the water and then sink to a predetermined depth before detonating, allowing it to breach the heavily fortified dams of the Ruhr Valley in Germany.
In addition to the bouncing bomb, Wallis also designed other innovative aircraft and weapons, such as the Tallboy and Grand Slam bombs, which were used to target German submarines and other targets during the war.
Wallis's bouncing bomb was a remarkable feat of engineering, requiring precise calculations and testing to ensure that it would work properly. The Dambusters Squadron trained extensively with the bomb in the months leading up to the mission, and their success in breaching the dams of the Ruhr Valley was largely due to Wallis's design.
After the war, Wallis continued to work in the aerospace industry, and he was eventually knighted for his contributions to engineering. He passed away in 1979 at the age of 92. His legacy lives on, however, as the bouncing bomb and the Dambusters raid continue to be celebrated as one of the greatest feats of aviation and engineering in history.
Housed in its own presentation card and blister pack, your coin will be ready to display or add to your collection.
