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By: 23rd March 2009 at 11:15 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-When you say obvious places, I'm assuming youv'e tried the TNA, IWM, RAFM or AHB?
Also local Government archives sometimes keep this information.
Have you tried asking at over on AIX, there are some members there that are into radar and the sites used.
I have just had a ganders around RAF Trerew (Chain Home) Radar site, fascinating place with many of the buildings and bunkeres still intact.
By: 23rd March 2009 at 16:38 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-...but not any others.
That said, I've just come across THIS, so at least I know where the masts were now, although some way from the technical site on the A27.
[in the long field at the top: three transmitter towers - originally four - plus four receiver towers]
Would still like to find a site plan though.
By: 23rd March 2009 at 19:35 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-I've got a cleaner/larger version of that aerial shot if anyone wants it.
By: 23rd March 2009 at 20:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-"I've got a cleaner/larger version of that aerial shot if anyone wants it."
Yes please!
"...will try to dig out the other IWM shots."
Again, yes please!!
By: 23rd March 2009 at 20:59 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Tangmere1940, I'm afraid the IWM photo looking up the transmitter tower is most definitely NOT Poling. The general view of the station (IWM neg no CH 15173), the vertical aerial and the private shot are, but the view up the tower is not. How do I know? It's the wrong type of tower, and quite distinctive if you know the three different designs which were used. This photo is almost certainly of a tower at Bawdsey in Suffolk.
By: 23rd March 2009 at 21:01 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Oops, I forgot to mention that I have another couple of photos, showing the receiver site at Poling.
By: 23rd March 2009 at 21:24 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Don't worry - I know it is VERY sad that I know these things. That said, it is surprising how often such information comes in useful and being one of the few people in the entire country with such knowledge does keep me in demand.
By: 23rd March 2009 at 21:38 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-The cottages next to the receiver site in your photo is still there today; walked past there with the dog the other day.
Named "Radar Cottages", in a nice link with the past.
By: 23rd March 2009 at 21:49 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-A couple of shots of Poling, scans of small snapshot's from my collection..the masts in 1958. View of buildings and mast bases taken in 1960.
Chumpy.
By: 23rd March 2009 at 22:10 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
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Anyone ready for the German photo of the crash site of Bader's Spitfire yet.....???!!
Well, someone told me on Sunday that he'd flown from Great Sampford (though I haven't a clue about his source...), so I'm up for it.
Seriously, it's really interesting to see an unusual aspect being covered especially as I've spent a (very cold!) night camping at the old Drone Hill radar station on the Scottish border.
Adrian
By: 24th March 2009 at 00:09 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-"...Seriously, it's really interesting to see an unusual aspect being covered..."
Adrian: Not wishing to detract from photos and possible site map, HERE is another interesting related aspect.
One of the very first awards of the Military Medal to one of only a handful of women in WWII - Avis Hearn - was as a result of the big raid on Poling; 18th August 1940.
Apparently it was 1960 before the London Gazette - where all awards were announced - acknowledged that they had got her name wrong (Avis J. Hearn; later Avis J. Parsons)!
By: 26th March 2009 at 17:46 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-http://www.worthingherald.co.uk/CustomPages/CustomPage.aspx?SectionID=14461
Tangmere1940: Did you have any luck finding those other photos?
By: 2nd February 2010 at 21:26 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Tangmere1940, I'm afraid the IWM photo looking up the transmitter tower is most definitely NOT Poling. The general view of the station (IWM neg no CH 15173), the vertical aerial and the private shot are, but the view up the tower is not. How do I know? It's the wrong type of tower, and quite distinctive if you know the three different designs which were used. This photo is almost certainly of a tower at Bawdsey in Suffolk.
Hello Ian, I was delighted to find this site, and view the comments and photos from all contributors. My father was a radar mechanic in WW2 with his first posting to CHL Dunwich following attendance at No.1 Radar School Cracnwell in July 1942. Later postings were to RAF CH Poling, Truleigh Hill,Hythe & CHL The Needles. He died not long after returning to NZ,and I am keen to obtain information/photos of the Dunwich CHL and/or RAF Accommodation sites. I visited Dunwich in 2002, only the generator block remains, and a photo in the National Trust/Coastguard building of campers taken in the 1950's showing an outline of the CHL tower in the background. Would you have any further information regarding RAF Dunwich in particular? Many thanks, Maurice340.
P.S. I was directed to the Stenigot Site, with one remaining transmitter mast, amazing!
By: 3rd February 2010 at 06:43 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Hello 1stThings1st, if still available, I would be keen to receive your sharper photo image of the site, Many thanks, Maurice.
By: 3rd February 2010 at 15:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-1stThings1st,
In your post #14, you mention 'Radar Cottages'. This put me in mind of a cottage at the corner of a factory where I once worked. The factory is long gone and I am certain that not many, if any, of the local residents know why it is (still) called 'Frequency Cottage'.
The factory was previously known within the company as 'High Frequency Works' and was allegedly used to produce cables for radar installations using the newly invented polyethylene as dielectric. I was told by an old stager that they were one of ICI's first customers for their new 'Polythene' material, maybe even the first. That would have been in the late 1930s. 'Polythene' is now of course a generic term along with 'Biro' and 'Hoover'.
Just thought you may be interested.
Rod
Posts: 49
By: "1stThings1st" - 23rd March 2009 at 10:16
I'm particularly interested in the position of the aerials in relation to the technical site on the A27; and the accommodation area in nearby woods.
Information on Poling in general is fairly scarce, so any additional details - particularly photographic - would be welcome.
Thanks.