Underground Radar Site

[George York]

In 1962 I went to RAF Thorney Island for the Annual Camp. One day we went
out to visit an Underground Radar Installation which was active. All I
remember were a few radar aerials rotating in a field and a very small brick
building which housed the entrance. Once inside we went down concrete
flights of steps to a curved roof tunnel lined with cables of varying size.
We walked down this tunnel going deeper for what seemed like 10 minutes.
There were rest rooms, a canteen and most impressive operations room with a
large central perspex screen for plotting on. Dotted around the room were
radar consoles which could show the immediate area or display the entire
country on one screen. This was possibly a maximum of 30 minutes from
Thorney Island. Has anyone any idea were it was and what it was called,
please?

[Nick Catford]

--
Please do not reply to this email address use my new one

Post by George York
In 1962 I went to RAF Thorney Island for the Annual Camp. One day we went
out to visit an Underground Radar Installation which was active. All I
remember were a few radar aerials rotating in a field and a very small brick
building which housed the entrance. Once inside we went down concrete
flights of steps to a curved roof tunnel lined with cables of varying size.
We walked down this tunnel going deeper for what seemed like 10 minutes.
There were rest rooms, a canteen and most impressive operations room with a
large central perspex screen for plotting on. Dotted around the room were
radar consoles which could show the immediate area or display the entire
country on one screen. This was possibly a maximum of 30 minutes from
Thorney Island. Has anyone any idea were it was and what it was called,
please?
--
George York

Truleigh Hill near Worthing seems the only possible candidate, nothing else
is within 30 minutes drive and you'd need to put your foot down to do it in
30 minutes.

Nick

[George York]

Underground tunnel is the wrong shape, mine had a rounded ceiling. I think
we travelled in an RAF covered wagon, so it won't have been far from Thorney
Island

Post by Nick Catford
--
Please do not reply to this email address use my new one

Post by George York
In 1962 I went to RAF Thorney Island for the Annual Camp. One day we went
out to visit an Underground Radar Installation which was active. All I
remember were a few radar aerials rotating in a field and a very small

brick

Post by George York
building which housed the entrance. Once inside we went down concrete
flights of steps to a curved roof tunnel lined with cables of varying

size.

Post by George York
We walked down this tunnel going deeper for what seemed like 10 minutes.
There were rest rooms, a canteen and most impressive operations room with

a

Post by George York
large central perspex screen for plotting on. Dotted around the room were
radar consoles which could show the immediate area or display the entire
country on one screen. This was possibly a maximum of 30 minutes from
Thorney Island. Has anyone any idea were it was and what it was called,
please?
--
George York

Truleigh Hill near Worthing seems the only possible candidate, nothing else
is within 30 minutes drive and you'd need to put your foot down to do it in
30 minutes.
Nick

[Laurie]

Post by George York
Underground tunnel is the wrong shape, mine had a rounded ceiling. I
think we travelled in an RAF covered wagon, so it won't have been far
from Thorney Island

The only RAF place I can think of that would have been close enough, would
have been Tangmere.
Not sure about any underground facility there though.

[Ian Davidson]

Post by Laurie

Post by George York
Underground tunnel is the wrong shape, mine had a rounded ceiling. I
think we travelled in an RAF covered wagon, so it won't have been far
from Thorney Island

The only RAF place I can think of that would have been close enough, would
have been Tangmere.
Not sure about any underground facility there though.

George,

is it possible you went to the radar testing place at Funtingdon?
It's on the site of the old WW2 airfield, and is essentially a big
flat field with radar dishes in it. It was owned or run by someone
like Plessey, Decca, Marconi or the like. The location is about right;
its about 4 miles by road from the gatehouse at Thorney island,
direction NNE.

[Jeff]

Post by Ian Davidson
George,
is it possible you went to the radar testing place at Funtingdon?
It's on the site of the old WW2 airfield, and is essentially a big
flat field with radar dishes in it. It was owned or run by someone
like Plessey, Decca, Marconi or the like. The location is about right;
its about 4 miles by road from the gatehouse at Thorney island,
direction NNE.

Funtington was MoD, part of ASWE (Admiralty Surface Weapons
Establishment, later DRA, DERA etc.) on the top of Portsdown Hill.

I can.t think of any locations that fit the description of a brick guard
house
and radar antennas with underground facilitates that are very close the
Thorney.
As Nick said Truleigh Hill is the best bet, Ventnor would be good if
the trip was in a DUKW.

Jeff

[Ed]

Post by Ian Davidson

Post by Laurie

Post by George York
Underground tunnel is the wrong shape, mine had a rounded ceiling. I
think we travelled in an RAF covered wagon, so it won't have been far
from Thorney Island

The only RAF place I can think of that would have been close enough, would
have been Tangmere.
Not sure about any underground facility there though.

George,
is it possible you went to the radar testing place at Funtingdon?
It's on the site of the old WW2 airfield, and is essentially a big
flat field with radar dishes in it. It was owned or run by someone
like Plessey, Decca, Marconi or the like. The location is about right;
its about 4 miles by road from the gatehouse at Thorney island,
direction NNE.

Plessey was on Isle of Wight

[MB]

Post by Ed
Plessey was on Isle of Wight

Didn't they also have a place in Portsmouth?

MB

[Jeff]

Post by MB

Post by Ed
Plessey was on Isle of Wight

Didn't they also have a place in Portsmouth?
MB

Havant, Ilford, Christchurch, Swindon, and many more.

Jeff

[Ian Davidson]

Post by Ian Davidson

Post by Laurie

Post by George York
Underground tunnel is the wrong shape, mine had a rounded ceiling. I
think we travelled in an RAF covered wagon, so it won't have been far
from Thorney Island

The only RAF place I can think of that would have been close enough, would
have been Tangmere.
Not sure about any underground facility there though.

George,
is it possible you went to the radar testing place at Funtingdon?
It's on the site of the old WW2 airfield, and is essentially a big
flat field with radar dishes in it. It was owned or run by someone
like Plessey, Decca, Marconi or the like. The location is about right;
its about 4 miles by road from the gatehouse at Thorney island,
direction NNE.

Should have been Funtington. Take a look at the aerial photo!!

http://tinyurl.com/25vtw

[Jeff]

Post by Ian Davidson
Should have been Funtington. Take a look at the aerial photo!!
http://tinyurl.com/25vtw

Why?

All I see is the pig farm and the antenna range ( the green patch),

Jeff

[jon five]

Post by Jeff

Post by Ian Davidson
Should have been Funtington. Take a look at the aerial photo!!
http://tinyurl.com/25vtw

Why?
All I see is the pig farm and the antenna range ( the green patch),
Jeff

i agree about the pig farms, but am very interested in the ridge with
what looks like several entrances into it on the mid west side of the
area. interesting stuff.

j5

[Laurie]

Post by jon five
i agree about the pig farms, but am very interested in the ridge with
what looks like several entrances into it on the mid west side of the
area. interesting stuff.

Not sure exactly where you mean, but if its this, then its a gravel pit.
http://www.multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?x=478426&y=107582&scale=5000

[Laurie]

Post by Laurie

Post by jon five
i agree about the pig farms, but am very interested in the ridge with
what looks like several entrances into it on the mid west side of the
area. interesting stuff.

Not sure exactly where you mean, but if its this, then its a gravel pit.
http://www.multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?x=478426&y=107582&scale=5000

Forgot to add, if its somewhere else, maybe you gould give a grid ref.

This might help (should all be on one line if it gets split) :
<http://www.magic.gov.uk/website/magic/opener.htm?startTopic=magadminareas&x
ygridref=478619,108254&startScale=10000>

[maj2]

<http://www.magic.gov.uk/website/magic/opener.htm?startTopic=magadminareas&x

Post by Laurie
ygridref=478619,108254&startScale=10000>

Well it's shown on the map as a "research establishment" this is normally a
government owned place, the other one is defiantly a gravel pit.

[Laurie]

Post by maj2
Well it's shown on the map as a "research establishment" this is
normally a government owned place, the other one is defiantly a
gravel pit.

I was actually asking where 'jon five" thought there was a ridge with
entrances, as all I can see on the photo is the test range, the pig farm and
some gravel pits.
I know the area very well as I only live about 5 miles away and pass by it
regularly.
In fact, I can see part of the range from my bedroom window :-)

[jon five]

Post by Laurie

Post by maj2
Well it's shown on the map as a "research establishment" this is
normally a government owned place, the other one is defiantly a
gravel pit.

I was actually asking where 'jon five" thought there was a ridge with
entrances, as all I can see on the photo is the test range, the pig farm and
some gravel pits.
I know the area very well as I only live about 5 miles away and pass by it
regularly.
In fact, I can see part of the range from my bedroom window :-)

http://www.multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?client=public&x=479197&y=108136&width=700&height=410&scale=5000&left.x=7&left.y=14

looks like somewhat of a low kinked ridge to me. kinda sticks out.
hope the link works.

since your local, perhaps you could tell us whats to be found on the
ground there, and what we should be seeing?

cheers

j5

[Laurie]

jon five wrote:
http://www.multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?client=public&x=479197&y=108136&width=700&height=410&scale=5000&left.x=7&left.y=14

Post by jon five
looks like somewhat of a low kinked ridge to me. kinda sticks out.
hope the link works.
since your local, perhaps you could tell us whats to be found on the
ground there, and what we should be seeing?

Jon,

What you can see are the surface targets and structures at one end of the
test range. They are basically a scaffolding tower about 3 storeys high,
some mock-ups of various bits of ship's superstructure, bridge, radar tower
etc. and a collection of wooden huts and portakabins.
Sometimes, temporary tent-like structures are erected to keep some things
undercover, it looks as if there was one of those on the site when the photo
was taken.
The range is a flat field.
There is some info about the site on their website:
http://www.marine.gov.uk/signature_control.htm

[jon five]

Post by jon five
http://www.multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?client=public&x=479197&y=108136&width=700&height=410&scale=5000&left.x=7&left.y=14

Post by jon five
looks like somewhat of a low kinked ridge to me. kinda sticks out.
hope the link works.
since your local, perhaps you could tell us whats to be found on the
ground there, and what we should be seeing?

Jon,
What you can see are the surface targets and structures at one end of the
test range. They are basically a scaffolding tower about 3 storeys high,
some mock-ups of various bits of ship's superstructure, bridge, radar tower
etc. and a collection of wooden huts and portakabins.
Sometimes, temporary tent-like structures are erected to keep some things
undercover, it looks as if there was one of those on the site when the photo
was taken.
The range is a flat field.
http://www.marine.gov.uk/signature_control.htm

ahh, shame, shame. seems rather a small site for DERA though, does it
not?... is whats in that aerial shot the whole of the range?...

j5

[jon five]

Post by jon five
http://www.multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?client=public&x=479197&y=108136&width=700&height=410&scale=5000&left.x=7&left.y=14

Post by jon five
looks like somewhat of a low kinked ridge to me. kinda sticks out.
hope the link works.
since your local, perhaps you could tell us whats to be found on the
ground there, and what we should be seeing?

Jon,
What you can see are the surface targets and structures at one end of the
test range. They are basically a scaffolding tower about 3 storeys high,
some mock-ups of various bits of ship's superstructure, bridge, radar tower
etc. and a collection of wooden huts and portakabins.
Sometimes, temporary tent-like structures are erected to keep some things
undercover, it looks as if there was one of those on the site when the photo
was taken.
The range is a flat field.
http://www.marine.gov.uk/signature_control.htm

ahh, shame, shame. seems rather a small site for DERA though, does it
not?... is whats in that aerial shot the whole of the range?...

j5

[Laurie]

Post by jon five
is whats in that aerial shot the whole of the range?...

Most of the range is in this shot:
http://www.multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?client=public&x=478533&y=108349&width=500&height=310&scale=5000&right.x=26&right.y=11

The majority of the original shot was the pig farm. All those little squares
are either old 1960's railway goods wagons, or more modern equivalents
(mostly corrugated iron) for the pigs to live in.
I'm away for a few days, but I'll try and get some photo's of the area from
ground level when I get back, and post them somewhere so you can see just
how unexciting the place really is, unless you are into pigs of course :-)

[Ian Davidson]

Post by Jeff

Post by Ian Davidson
Should have been Funtington. Take a look at the aerial photo!!
http://tinyurl.com/25vtw

Why?
All I see is the pig farm and the antenna range ( the green patch),
Jeff

I'm sure I have seen dishes there in the past though they may well
have been small, and possibly mobile. Can George recall if thislooks
like the place he visited? What about Fort Southwick? Its at the top
of the downs and rather distinctive. It has the U/G tunnel complex
too.

Over to you George !!