The Isle of Wight Zoo will be hosting a 2-day memorial event this weekend (Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th June) to mark the 72nd Anniversary of D-Day.
The Island’s original zoo is nestled within the confines of a 150 year old Napoleonic fort which holds a wealth of historic interest. The fort helped secure an allied victory in the D-Day landings, but due to the secrecy of the project very few people know how crucial it was.
The Pipeline Under The Ocean project (PLUTO) was set up in order to supply the allies with fuel for D-Day and beyond. It was inevitable the withdrawing Nazis would destroy all the fuel they could in an attempt to slow the allied forces down, but PLUTO combated this. Pipes were laid between England and France, with the Isle of Wight being a key part of a project described by General Eisenhower as being “second in daring only to the artificial ‘Mulberry’ Harbours”.
The zoo housed 11 of the 16 Sandown pumps, with the 5 remaining ones at Browns and the Grand Hotel.
Although most of the pumps were broken up and dismantled at the end of the war, a few survived. The Isle of Wight Zoo is proud to display one of the PLUTO pumps in its original position under one of the fort’s gun arches.
This weekend’s events to include:
• Static display of vintage engines
• Restored military vehicles
• Classic vehicles
• The P.L.U.T.O pump room
• Special Tug o War Big Cat enrichment with 679AAC- Duke of Connaught Sqdrn and Casper the White Lion
• Lion themed activities
Featured photo: MarkS
