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| HER Number: | MDV109208 |
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| Name: | Defence Post 45a, Exeter Airfield |
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Summary
Second World War airfield defence post.
Location
| Grid Reference: | SX 992 939 |
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| Map Sheet: | SX99SE |
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| Admin Area | Devon |
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| Civil Parish | Clyst Honiton |
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| District | East Devon |
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| Ecclesiastical Parish | CLYST HONITON |
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Protected Status
- SHINE: Military structures; earthworks and archaeological remains of World War II, RAF Exeter and post medieval catchmeadows and orchard banks on footprint of modern Exeter Airport and to the east
Other References/Statuses
- Old DCC SMR Ref: SX99SE/175
- SHINE Candidate (Yes)
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- PILLBOX (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
Full description
APH, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV100871.
Recorded on 1947 ap (aph).
Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV100873.
Aph=raf/cpe/uk/1974/3457/(11/4/1947)/smr 37/34.
Davis, R. A., 2014, Exeter Skypark, Devon, RGF Site Clearance and Landscaping: Historic Building Record, 8; Fig 2; Plates 34-38 (Report - Survey). SDV357036.
Along the west side of the fighter pen area, two defensive posts were located (45 and 45a). These features form part of a wider defence system which includes the defended walls to fighter pens 71 and 81.
Defence post 45a has been identified by Francis as an ‘Anti-aircraft gun-pit’. Francis had identified this feature as a brick-built machine-gun post that faces south-east. It has also been identified as similar to those at Culmhead airfield. The difference is that this example, at Exeter, has a windowless permanent brick shelter located to the rear or west side of the gun-pit.
This small structure was plain inside with no original fixtures or fittings left. However, a small circular hole was noted in the rear ceiling. This was thought to be the aperture for a stove pipe so that the interior could be heated. The gun-pit would appear to have been constructed by 1942 as an inscription was recorded in the surface of one of the small vent apertures in the east side of the shelter.
At the base of the gun-pit there was a circular series of iron blots. This feature was a ‘hold-fast’ formed to bolt down the plinth for the machine gun. The small magazine recess was located on the east side of the gun.
Sources / Further Reading
| SDV100871 | Migrated Record: APH. |
| SDV100873 | Aerial Photograph: |
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| SDV357036 | Report - Survey: Davis, R. A.. 2014. Exeter Skypark, Devon, RGF Site Clearance and Landscaping: Historic Building Record. Wessex Archaeology Report. 100863.02. A4 Bound + Digital. 8; Fig 2; Plates 34-38. |
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Associated Monuments
| MDV48842 | Part of: Exeter Airfield (Military) (Monument) |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events
- EDV4774 - Historic Airport Survey, Exeter Airport
| Date Last Edited: | Jun 5 2023 2:20PM |
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