| Summary : The site of a Chain Home radar station at Poling established by April 1938. The station provided early warning of approaching enemy aircraft for the south coast, particularly in the the Portsmouth to Brighton area, during the Second World War. It was part of the network of radar warning systems for the key 11 Group RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. Chain Home stations comprised transmission and receiver blocks, four 240ft timber receiver aerial towers, four 350ft steel transmitter aerial towers that stood on concrete pads, and other buildings such as dispersed accommodation huts, guard huts and standby set houses. From 1940 defensive measures were installed at radar stations, including Light Anti-Aircraft gun emplacements, pill boxes, road blocks and air raid shelters. The site was remodelled and technically restored in the early 1950s as part of the Rotor programme. Aerial photography from 1970 shows that a receiver block (located at TQ 044 051), a radar plinth and a guard house remain extant at the site. The rest of the station has been removed and given over to agricultural use. |
More information : A Chain Home radar station at Poling, known as CH08, that was established by 07-APR-1938. Chain Home stations comprised transmission and receiver blocks, four 240ft timber receiver aerial towers, four 350ft steel transmitter aerial towers that stood on concrete pads, and other buildings such as dispersed accommodation huts, guard huts and standby set houses. From 1940 defensive measures were installed at radar stations, including Light Anti-Aircraft guns, pill boxes, road blocks and air raid shelters. The receiver block was located at TQ 044 051. (1)
A Chain Home radar station at Poling (TQ 044 051). Aerial photography from 1970 shows that the receiver block, one radar plinth and a guard house remains extant. The rest of the site has been removed and is now under agricultural use. (2)
The Rotor programme was developed to advance the wartime radar technology in detecting and locating fast-flying jets. It was approved by the Air Council in June 1950. The first phase of the programme, Rotor 1, was to technically restore existing Chain Home, centrimetric early warning, Chain Home Extra Low and Ground Controlled Interception stations and put them under the control of RAF Fighter Command. There were three main components to the Rotor stations: the technical site, including the radars, operation blocks and other installations; the domestic site, where personnel were accommodated; and the stand-by set house, a reserve power supply. The technical site at Poling Rotor station was located at TQ 043 052. The domestic site was situated at TQ 058 058 (see HOB UID 1487469) and the stand-by set house was co-located at the technical site. (3-5)
As source 2. (6)
The RAF website for the Battle of Britain notes "RAF Poling" as being part of the radar warning system for 11 Group RAF Fighter command, however it lists it under chain home low stations. (7) |