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200 yard Moving Target Ranges
- P Bellamy
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08 Apr 2013 18:59 #241
by P Bellamy
Paul Bellamy
Replied by P Bellamy on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
Yes, that each of the sites considered would adjoin or be very close to an existing range is indeed mentioned.
Paul Bellamy
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- Alastair
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08 Apr 2013 20:01 #242
by Alastair
Hunstanton range was an inter-war anti-aircraft artillery, situated on Gore Point just where the later moving target ranges were installed. The bye-law I have a scan of is dated 1924 (and covered the period 23rd June to 15th September of that year). The area is now the NWT Holme Dunes reserve. Are you referring to another offshore air-to-air range? That would be a new one for me to add to my local lists.
Replied by Alastair on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
The Hunstanton Air to Air Range had no ground facilities. Although the manual dictates a control tower with ground signals for air to air ranges I have found no evidence of these on wartime coastal air to air ranges. It was later resized and renamed Burnham Flats. Part of the 1941/2 range area included the later Snettisham site. The British coast line was covered with danger areas of all sorts and late war maps show very little in the way of gaps. I was going to attempt a 1945 map of just RAF/FAA related air ranges but that is a task and a half.
Hunstanton range was an inter-war anti-aircraft artillery, situated on Gore Point just where the later moving target ranges were installed. The bye-law I have a scan of is dated 1924 (and covered the period 23rd June to 15th September of that year). The area is now the NWT Holme Dunes reserve. Are you referring to another offshore air-to-air range? That would be a new one for me to add to my local lists.
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- Peter Kirk
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11 May 2013 11:23 - 01 Jul 2017 14:52 #243
by Peter Kirk
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)
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Replied by Peter Kirk on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
At last, the Chivenor unfinished range has been found. It is vaguely visible on GE (see pic below) and is located at SS 456 356 (approx).
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)
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- PETERTHEEATER
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11 May 2013 13:47 #244
by PETERTHEEATER
Replied by PETERTHEEATER on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
Well done. But how did you spot it?
I went over the views and found many 'maybes' since ones eyes get to see the classic lozenge shape all over the sand dunes. I'm looking at your shape in WTP on a tablet and it is in a logical place.
I went over the views and found many 'maybes' since ones eyes get to see the classic lozenge shape all over the sand dunes. I'm looking at your shape in WTP on a tablet and it is in a logical place.
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- Peter Kirk
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11 May 2013 14:32 #245
by Peter Kirk
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)
Replied by Peter Kirk on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
Easy, just order 100% of Braunton Burrows for 1946 from NMR and hope one of the frames shows something. It did in this case. This doesn't always work as I have had a few failures.
Source for the frame references (to save requesting a search) was www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/ and also a search using www.oldaerialphotos.com which list frame references for each hit. The second link needs constant re-centreing as it only returns single frames for a sortie. Luckily most of Devon has 1946 frame coverage, one of the few areas that do! Make sure you order photocopies first as sometime a frame might not show something or may be covered in cloud.
Source for the frame references (to save requesting a search) was www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/ and also a search using www.oldaerialphotos.com which list frame references for each hit. The second link needs constant re-centreing as it only returns single frames for a sortie. Luckily most of Devon has 1946 frame coverage, one of the few areas that do! Make sure you order photocopies first as sometime a frame might not show something or may be covered in cloud.
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)
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- Movingtarget
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21 May 2013 10:53 #246
by Movingtarget
Replied by Movingtarget on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
Good to confirm the existance of Chivenor, well done!
Whilst visiting Pembrey markers shelters last month (see other post ) I looked at the site of the MTR and can confirm there is virtually nothing left apart from a pile of earth and broken concrete where the target repair shed was situated.
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The base for the workshop had also mostly disappeared.
JohnG
Whilst visiting Pembrey markers shelters last month (see other post ) I looked at the site of the MTR and can confirm there is virtually nothing left apart from a pile of earth and broken concrete where the target repair shed was situated.
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The base for the workshop had also mostly disappeared.
JohnG
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- PETERTHEEATER
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15 Jul 2013 07:26 #247
by PETERTHEEATER
Replied by PETERTHEEATER on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
This is a copy of the US Army Assault Training map of that coast showing the RAF MTR. Perhaps the construction of the Chivenor MTR was cancelled due to the assault training area being in line of fire:
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15 Jul 2013 11:28 #248
by Peter Kirk
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)
Replied by Peter Kirk on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
I think the MTR's for RAF use were all constructed by 1940/1. Snettisham was 8th AF so later. The Chivenor one was part completed and it appears to have been planned to fully complete in 1943 but I assume it was started around 1940.
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04 Aug 2013 10:06 #249
by Peter Kirk
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)
Replied by Peter Kirk on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
It appears my assumption about the dates of construction was wrong. A look at a vertical of Barrow dated 1.4.1942 does not show the MTR!
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04 Aug 2013 12:50 #250
by PETERTHEEATER
Replied by PETERTHEEATER on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
Presumably, an increased need for larger numbers of Air Gunners resulted in new Air Gunnery Schools and new MTRs?
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