New Zealander privy to plans

Press, 30 September 1988, Page 13

New Zealander privy to plans

By

DAVE WILSON

EARLY IN 1943, the commander of R.A.F. Bomber Command, Air Marshal Arthur “Bomber” Harris, summoned his group captain in charge of planning bombing operations. Group Captain Sam Elworthy (now Marshal of the Royal Air Force, Lord Elworthy, of Timaru) was slightly mystified about the order he received. "You are to go immediately to the Air Ministry and see the Chief of Air Staff.” “What about, sir?” asked the perplexed Elworthy. “I don’t really know,” Harris fudged. “And even if I did I wouldn’t tell you.” So began what has been a previously untold chapter in the story of the Dambusters raid, and a distinguished New Zealander’s role in the early, crucial, ’i- Si

formative stage of the plan. “Do you know Barnes Wallis?” 1 the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir. Charles Portal, i asked. > "I know of him, sir,” Elworthy replied. Barnes Wallis, designer f of the Wellington bomber with its unique geodetic construction, f had created the aircraft that was I an early mainstay of Bomber Command in the early years of i the Second World War. : “You will spend the next two days with him and then you will ! . write a report on what you have learned. I’m not going to tell you ; what it’s all about,” the C.A.S. replied. Lord Elworthy recalls the subsequent events. : “I spent the morning with Barnes Wallis in his office while he told me what I thought was this crazy plan to bounce bombs