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Summary

A Second World War Practice Bombing Range ground signal arrow is visible on aerial photographs of 1941 as a number of structures on the coastal cliffs overlooking Maidencombe Beach.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BOMBING RANGE MARKER (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1941, RAF/S455, RAF/S455 V 43-44 29-AUG-1941 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352355.

A Practice Bombing Range ground signal arrow and associated structure is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/3G/TUD/UK/223, RAF/3G/TUD/UK223 5357-9 12-JUL-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352279.

The marker has been partly dismantled.

Royal Air Force, 1951, RAF/58/680, RAF/58/680 4056-4057 15-MAY-1951 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351617.

The marker has been removed.

Roger Thomas, Architectural Investigator, English Heritage, 2012-2013, Telephone and email correspondence, Email 11th June 2012 (Personal Comment). SDV349402.

A number of illustrations describe the components and dimensions of of Practice Bombing Range Ground Signals. The illustrations were taken from: Air Publication 1245, Armament Training Manual, Part IV, Chapter 1, Air Firing and Bombing Ranges, February 1940.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2013-2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV351146.

A Second World War Practice Bombing Range ground signal arrow is visible on aerial photographs of 1941 overlooking Maidencombe Beach. The Range Target Indicator comprises a circa 25 metre long white arrow, possibly constructed from concrete, orientated roughly on south- east, surrounded by three structures each measuring circa five metres square, and two rows of short and narrow possible structures to the north-western end of the arrow. Information supplied by Roger Thomas of English Heritage supports the interpretation that this structure is a High Altitude range marker. The three larger associated structures probably comprise reversible reflective signal discs to allow a range of codes to be communicated to aircraft. The shorter structures to the south are probably reversible detail strips. A small rectangular structure visible to the east is probably associated with the Range Target Indicator, perhaps a guardhouse. The marker has been partly dismantled by July of 1946 and appears to have been completely removed by May 1951.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV349402	Personal Comment: Roger Thomas, Architectural Investigator, English Heritage. 2012-2013. Telephone and email correspondence. Email 11th June 2012.
SDV351146	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2013-2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV351617	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1951. RAF/58/680. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/58/680 4056-4057 15-MAY-1951.
SDV352279	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/3G/TUD/UK/223. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/3G/TUD/UK223 5357-9 12-JUL-1946.
SDV352355	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1941. RAF/S455. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/S455 V 43-44 29-AUG-1941. [Mapped feature: #64469 ]

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)

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