HeritageGateway - Home
Site Map
Text size: A A A
You are here: Home > > > > Devon & Dartmoor HER Result
Devon & Dartmoor HERPrintable version | About Devon & Dartmoor HER | Visit Devon & Dartmoor HER online...

See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.


HER Number:MDV102969
Name:Craters on the U.S. Army Assault Training Centre, Braunton Burrows

Summary

Bomb or mortar craters of Second World War date are visible as earthworks on Braunton Burrows, on aerial photographs from the 1940s. They may be associated with Training Aid 15, part of the Second World War U.S. Army Assault Training Centre. The craters have probably been covered by shifting sand.

Location

Grid Reference:SS 449 359
Map Sheet:SS43NW
Admin AreaDevon
Civil ParishBraunton
DistrictNorth Devon
Ecclesiastical ParishBRAUNTON

Protected Status

  • SHINE: Earthworks and structural remains of World War II military training features for D-Day Landings on Braunton Burrows

Other References/Statuses

  • SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

  • BOMB CRATER? (World War II - 1943 AD to 1945 AD)
  • MORTAR CRATER? (World War II - 1943 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1501, NMR RAF/106G/UK/1501 3003-3004 13-MAY-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349927.

A cluster of five earthwork craters is visible.


Royal Air Force, 1954, RAF/540/1266 (F22), NMR RAF/540/1266 F22 0072 08-MAR-1954 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349931.

Earthwork craters are visible.


Hegarty, C. + Knight, S., 2011 - 2012, North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV349018.

A small cluster of bomb or mortar craters of Second World War date are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in the 1940s and 1950s. The craters, which measure approximately 3 metres in diameter, are sited to the north-east of Training Aid 15, perhaps on the approach to the pillbox from the other side of a barbed wire obstruction. It is therefore probable that the craters resulted from the use of live ammunition during training exercises for Operation Overlord, undertaken by the U.S. Army within the Assault Training Centre on the Burrows. The craters are not visible on later available aerial photographs and may have been infilled by shifting sand after the 1950s.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV349018Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S.. 2011 - 2012. North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. ACD383/2/1. Digital.
Linked documents:1
SDV349927Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1501. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/UK/1501 3003-3004 13-MAY-1946. [Mapped feature: #62471 ]
SDV349931Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1954. RAF/540/1266 (F22). Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/540/1266 F22 0072 08-MAR-1954.

Associated Monuments

MDV102964Related to: Training Aid 15 at the US Army Second World War Assault Training Centre, Braunton Burrows (Monument)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

  • EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project

Date Last Edited:Jul 7 2017 12:33PM

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.