10 ton bomb: RAF Bomber Command attack [Bielefeld] viaduct with 22,000lb bomb

On Tuesday March 15th Bomber Command sprung its newest suprise on Germany, the 22,000 lb bomb. This bomb is carried in Lancasters specially modified for the purpose and it was these aircraft of 617 Squadron RAF which carried out the attack on the viaduct at Bielefeld, a city with a population of 40,000 60 miles North East of Dortmund. This viaduct carried one of the last remaining two-track railways connecting the Ruhr with the rest of Germany. The film shows the assembly of the bomb and transport to and mounting the bomb on the Lancasters. The take off and flight to the target are shown including a shot of a Lancaster from below showing the bomb semi recessed in the bomb bay. The start of the attack is shown with the first bombs, 12,000 pounders scoring direct hits and near misses. Then there is a tremendous explosion throwing up a column of earth and smoke like a great inverted mountain. The final part of the film shows aerial and ground level shots of the great gap smashed in the spans of the viaduct. See also F02582. See also photographs SUK14014 & SUK14015.