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Summary

Training Aid 38 of the Second World War US Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows is visible as a structure on aerial photographs between 1946 and 2007, on the eastern side of a dune. The structure is likely to survive within the sands.

Location

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

• MILITARY TRAINING SITE (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Training Aids 37 and 38 are marked on the U.S. Army plans.

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

A partial structure is visible.

Bass, R. T., 2005, Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition, 67 (Monograph). SDV325697.

Training Aids 37 and 38 in Area 'D' of the World War II US Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows were not located during fieldwork in 2005.

Next Perspectives, 2007, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS4437 04-MAY-2007 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349344.

A pale linear feature visible on the eastern side of a dune could be the eastern face of the structure.

Passmore, A. + Knight, S., 2009, Farm Environment Plan (FEP), Updated Spreadsheet of Archaeological Sites (Un-published). SDV344664.

Visited 2009. Not located. NGR is on lower south side of east-west range of dunes, with bowl to south, where there are low mounds covered in vegetation ranging from low grass to dense low scrub.

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

Part of a rectangular structure circa 5.5 metres wide is visible on aerial photographs of May 1946. It appears to be on the eastern edge of a dune and may have been built into the dune or perhaps become engulfed by it. The structure’s location corresponds with Training Aid 38 as depicted on a U.S. Army plan of the Second World War Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows and was presumably used for training purposes. It is not readily identifiable on any later available aerial photographs, but a pale feature visible on aerial photographs dating to 2007 could be its eastern face, and the structure may survive within the dunes.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325697	Monograph: Bass, R. T.. 2005. Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition. Spirits of the Sand. A5 Paperback. 67.
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.
SDV344664	Un-published: Passmore, A. + Knight, S.. 2009. Farm Environment Plan (FEP), Updated Spreadsheet of Archaeological Sites. Exeter Archaeology Report. Digital.
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: SS4437 04-MAY-2007.
SDV349927	Aerial 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: #101371 ]

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4737 - Stewardship Scheme Archaeological Survey, Braunton Burrows
• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project

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