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HER Number:MDV102979
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 39, 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 448 369
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 earthwork craters is visible.


Royal Air Force, 1957, RAF/58/2205 F22, NMR RAF/58/2205 F22 0052-0053 05-JUL-1957 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349748.

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 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 between 1.5 and 4.5 metres in diameter, are sited to the north-east of Training Aid 39, 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
SDV349748Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1957. RAF/58/2205 F22. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/58/2205 F22 0052-0053 05-JUL-1957.
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: #62480 ]

Associated Monuments

MDV77686Related to: Pillbox, Braunton Burrows Military Training Area (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

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