Heligoland - the Big Bang

In an earlier blog regarding my father I said that he was involved in blowing up the German island of Heligoland. [See picture].
It is located in the German Bight some 50 miles offshore with the closest port being Cuxhaven.
In the Second World War it was a major submarine base - virtually indestructible concrete pens. The British decided to destroy post war and my Father organised shipping in 6,800 tons of high-explosives and on 18th April 1947 they made the biggest man made bang in history [excluding the A-bomb]. The island jumped 2 inchs!
My Dad was against the project saying that it would be a perfect shelter for fishing vessel. It was really an act of revenge that didn't think of the future. That's life... Posted by Picasa

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