Ref Number: 00242
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PLUTO was conceived in 1942 as part of the Operation Overload support programme to ensure adequate fuel to the troops as the allies fought back against the axis in Europe.
Ref Number: 00242
The approximate path of the conduit acorss the island is known to traverse from Stoney Point to Thorness Bay, then across the island to Shanklin Chine, and finally down the seafront to the pier, but the exact trajectory is unknown at this time.
The conduit extended from near Stone Point across the mainland to Fawley Refinery. There were an additional 1,000 miles of conduit throughout the United Kingdom that connected to additional supply points where fuel entered the system. Operation PLUTO comprised a number of shore sections and multiple pipeline units.
The segment crossing to the island from Stoney Point was codenamed SOHO, the Isle of Wight was codenamed BAMBI, the pipelines across to the D-Day landings were codenamed WATSON, and Dungeness and the pipes from there were codenamed DUMBO and DUMBO FAR, respectively.
It was described by General Eisenhower as “second only in daring to the Mulberry artificial harbours”.
Most of the pipe was recovered within a few years after the end of the war but a section of the pipeline, in its original position, can be seen at Shankling Chine.
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