Operation Pluto

Dear All,

Does anyone know someone who took part in Operation Pluto (Pipe Lines Under the Ocean) in world war 2? I'm doing research for a project on it at the moment. The British built pipelines from manchester to the Isle of Wight and Dungenese in Kent, then under the English chanel to France to supply the frontline with oil.

Thanks for your help

Tom

 

Tom

My parents live about 3 miles from Dungenese (St. Mary's Bay). If you need any pictures (If there is anything to photograph) or any info from the area let me know and I'll see what I can do when I'm down there next.

Cheers
Andy

 

Hi Andy,

I think there are some pumping stations left in Dungenese and Lydd. Whatever information you could pick up next time you are down there regarding people who participated in the project would be great.

Thanks

Tom

 

If you go to Lepe Park near southampton water you can go to a museum that has a section all about PLUTO, there was a pipeline from there, and a Mulberry building station and som LCT loading platforms there.

 

Hi Ferahgo,

Do you know the name of the museum?

Thanks

Tom

 

Sorry but I can't at the moment, i have a leaflet for it somewhere so I will try and find that.
But here is a webpage on the Lepe involvement with D-Day
D-Day at Lepe
If you are local it is well worth a visit, as you can see on the diagram there is still an awful lot there. Or you can make a extra day of it and go to the D-day museum in Portsmouth too (which is an awesome visit).

 

Ps welcome to the site

 

TomSaunders,
I took a trip to the Isle of wight, summer 2000 and visited a place where there was still a small piece of the PLUTO pipe.
The place is Shanklin Chine.
I did not posses a digital camera then, but I will scan the photos that I have and post them later for you.

Regards

Tom

 

Here are some pages from Operation Neptune by Commander Kenneth Edwards RN, about Pluto. I hope you might find some of the info useful

Sorry, I seem to have some difficulty getting the size and quality of the pics correct. Can anyone advise, otherwise I can e-mail them to TomSaunders.

Robert

 

Tom

My parents live about 3 miles from Dungenese (St. Mary's Bay). If you need any pictures (If there is anything to photograph) or any info from the area let me know and I'll see what I can do when I'm down there next.

Cheers
Andy

I've just spoken to my father and said the only thing he knows of at Dungenese is Two Oil Tanks disguised as bungalo's

Apparently they were filled with oil waiting for the invasion and the plan was to pump it into the sea and set light to it. Bungalo's were built around the tanks to disguise them.

I will go and have a look in the next week or so

Cheers
Andy

 

This is worth looking at

http://www.ww2inthehighlands.co.uk/folders/localhistory/operationpluto.htm

 

Tom Saunders,

Here are the non digital photographs that I took of the Pipeline in 2002.

A link to Wikipedia also.

Operation Pluto - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Regards

Tom

 

Ramacal -
Fascinating tale of how the "pluto" was developed and delivered..
Cheers

 

Great pictures. Thanks!

 

Alinghi,

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Regards
Tom

 

Help required by Bernard85

I am addressing this message to any or all members, especially Owen and Ron Goldstein.

Does anybody have a relative who went ashore on D-Day with the Pluto pipe line ?

if so, what regiment was it ?

My brother, that is one of them, was involved in the pipe line and went ashore on D-day.

He served in Europe, extending the line up the front line to supply fuel for tanks and all trucks etc.,

Of course, he was not alone in this amazing operation.

Here's hoping for a new reply

Thank you

Bernard85

ps.Ron i have tried to follow your instructions ?

 

Bernard

As I have already mentioned to you, I am having to count myself out here as I was strictly a D-Day Dodger and was serving in Italy during the D-Day operations.

There is of course much info available on the internet, for example:
Operation Pluto - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
but what you require is the help of this forum's very knowledgeable members who will, I have no doubt, come up with a list of units that were invoived.

Best regards

Ron

 

Ron / Bernard,

I used Google search and the words Royal Engineers and Pluto.

Lots of hits including this link to IWM site.

IWM interview | Imperial War Museums

aspects of work on PLUTO fuel supply system including building petrol storage tank in Westward Ho; work on Victaulic pipes at Sea View, Isle of Wight. REEL 2 Continues: move to East Grinstead and waterproofing of unit's vehicles, early 1944. Recollections of period with 663 Artisan Works Coy, Royal Engineers working on PLUTO, France, 1944: landing in which comrade drowned on Gold Beach, D+1, Normandy, 7/6/1944; march to Port en Bessin; work installing petrol tank; handling of PLUTO at Port en Bessin; description of PLUTO; his work in Port en Bessin; similar work in Boulogne;

I hope that this is of help with further leads and research.

Regards
Tom

 

Files on PLUTO can be found at the TNA Kew, they include
WO272/22
POWE 10/248
POWE 45/42
POWE 45/60
DEFE 2/248
ADM 281/10
PREM 3/332/3

Several include photographs - the war diaries of the units involved may also contain details

 

Stock Footage - Flexible pipelines to supply gasoline being laid out under the water in the English Channel during World War II.