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Summary

Training Aid 7F is one of ten Second World War structures built at Baggy Point as part of Area F of the Woolacombe US Army Assault Training Area. It is one of seven training ‘faces’ or walls built to the east of Area F, and visible as structures on aerial photographs of 1945 onwards. It is unusual in being built in a 'v' shape.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS44SW/22/4

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PILLBOX (ASSAULT TRAINING) (World War II - 1942 AD to 1944 AD (Between))

Full description

Unknown, 1944, Roads and Training Aids: U.S. Assault Training Center (Un-published). SDV339604.

Training Aids 4F-10F recorded on original US army plans of the Assault Training Center on the north side of Baggy Point.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1501, 3136 (Aerial Photograph). SDV337198.

A number of possible concrete bunker recorded on 1946 aerial photographs. Other details: HER 3/9.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1501, NMR RAF/106G/UK/1501 3135-3136 13-MAY-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349927.

The training aid is visible as a 'v' shaped concrete structure.

Royal Air Force, 1958, RAF 58/2555, NMR RAF/58/2555 PSFO-P1 395 SS4340/10 01-SEP-1958 (Aerial Photograph). SDV350309.

The training aid is clearly visible as a structure.

Horner, B., 1995, DAP/YV (Aerial Photograph). SDV7961.

Not shown on 1995 aerial photograph.

Bass, R. T., 1996, Guide to the US Assault Training Centre North Devon, 39 (Un-published). SDV325695.

1997, Untitled Source (Photograph). SDV339721.

Bass, R. T., 2005, Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition, 91-4 (Monograph). SDV325697.

Seven of ten pillbox structures in Area 'F' of the World War II US Assault Training Centre at Baggy Point. Training Aid numbers 6F, 9F and 10F were destroyed by the National Trust before 1997 but remnants of the rest with their associated earthworks remain.

Next Perspectives, 2007, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref SS4240 04-MAY-2007 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349344.

The training aid remains clearly visible as a structure.

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

Training Aid 7F is one of ten Second World War structures constructed at Baggy Point as part of Area F of the Woolacombe US Army Assault Training Area. It is one of seven training ‘faces’ or walls built to the east of Area F, largely centred around a field at circa SS427407. Training Aid 7F is visible as a ‘V’ shaped structure centred on circa SS42894073 in the north-eastern corner of the field. It is constructed from a two concrete walls each less than a metre wide, the complete structure measuring five metres long and nearly four metres across at the widest point of the 'V'. It is visible as a structure on aerial photographs of 1945 onwards and is clearly visible on the ground.

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

Roger Thomas photographed the mock pillbox on 3rd April 2003, at which point it was intact. The Baggy Point mock pillboxes do not resemble German fortifications, whereas those in other training areas, such as at Linney Head in Pembrokshire , were built from German plans.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325695	Un-published: Bass, R. T.. 1996. Guide to the US Assault Training Centre North Devon. Manuscript. 39.
SDV325697	Monograph: Bass, R. T.. 2005. Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition. Spirits of the Sand. A5 Paperback. 91-4.
SDV337198	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1501. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). 3136.
SDV339604	Un-published: Unknown. 1944. Roads and Training Aids: U.S. Assault Training Center. U.S. Plans from R.T.Bass. Mixed Archive Material + Digital.
SDV339721	Photograph: 1997. Slide.
SDV349018	Interpretation: 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
SDV349344	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2007. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref SS4240 04-MAY-2007.
SDV349402	Personal Comment: Roger Thomas, Architectural Investigator, English Heritage. 2012-2013. Telephone and email correspondence. Email sent 11th June 2012.
SDV349927	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1501. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/UK/1501 3135-3136 13-MAY-1946. [Mapped feature: #62501 ]
SDV350309	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1958. RAF 58/2555. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/58/2555 PSFO-P1 395 SS4340/10 01-SEP-1958.
SDV7961	Aerial Photograph: Horner, B.. 1995. DAP/YV. Devon Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper).

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

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

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