A LEGENDARY bomb used to sink German ships during the Second World War has been acquired by the Yorkshire Air Museum.
The Barnes Wallis designed Tallboy "earthquake" bomb has been added to the Elvington-based museum's bomb and missile exhibition, as has a smaller model of the 12,000lb weapon.
That came from Dr Ian McLellan, of Gillingham, who has also told the museum how the bomb - used to sink the German battleship Tirpitz - gained its name.
Ian's father, Ronald, worked on the development of the bombs, and the weapon was named after Ian who was born on December 12, 1943 at the unusually large weight of more than 11lbs.
Ian Reed, museum director, said: "This is a truly fascinating story, illustrating how aspects of normal human life impact at times of conflict and it is quite by chance that this has come to light after so long.
"We are delighted to receive the model of the Tallboy, which will no doubt be incorporated into the planned refurbishment of the present Barnes Wallis exhibition here at museum."
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