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Summary

The site of a Second World War searchlight battery and associated camp is visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s, as earthwork platforms and embanked structures at Coombe Park to the north of Lentney Battery. The site appears now to have been levelled.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• SEARCHLIGHT BATTERY (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/UK/871, RAF/106G/UK/871 6114-6115 30-SEP-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351258.

Searchlight battery structures and earthwork embanked emplacements are visible. Map object based on this source.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 2127-2128 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351061.

Searchlight battery structures and earthwork embanked emplacements are visible. Map object based on this source.

Royal Air Force, 1952, RAF/540/689, RAF/540/689 V 5061-5062 11-MAY-1952 (Aerial Photograph). SDV350201.

The searchlight battery searthwork emplacements remain visible.

Dobinson, C. S., 2000, Searchlight sites in WWII, 38 (Report - non-specific). SDV323811.

Site of WWII searchlight at Coombe Park. Manned by 385 SL Bty.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2013-2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV351146.

The site of a Second World War searchlight battery and associated camp is visible on aerial photographs of 1945 as earthwork platforms and embanked structures at Coombe Park to the north of Lentney Battery. All temporary structures appear to have been removed by this date. The searchlight locations are visible as two possible earthwork emplacements 8 to 10 metres in diameter, on the west facing slope below the battery accommodation. Two smaller circular emplacements might be evidence of light anti-aircraft machine gun emplacements. The earthwork emplacements can still be seen on aerial photographs of the 1950s. The site appears now to have been levelled.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV323811	Report - non-specific: Dobinson, C. S.. 2000. Searchlight sites in WWII. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England. AA/1. A4 Stapled + Digital. 38.
SDV350201	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1952. RAF/540/689. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/540/689 V 5061-5062 11-MAY-1952.
SDV351061	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 2127-2128 10-DEC-1946.
SDV351146	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2013-2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV351258	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/UK/871. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/871 6114-6115 30-SEP-1945.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)

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