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This Royal Observer Corps Bunker known as 'Swaffham Post' was in use from 1957 to 1968. The ventilation shaft of the bunker has been removed but it is otherwise intact with the internal furnishings still present.
There is a Type-22 Pillbox nearby with a Royal Observer Corps Observation Post built brick on top.
The world’s top 10 military spenders and the approximate amounts each country currently budgets for its military establishment are:
1. United States (FY08 budget), $623 billion
2. China (2004), $65 billion
3. Russia, $50 billion
4. France (2005), $45 billion
5. Japan (2007), $41.75 billion
6. Germany (2003), $35.1 billion
7. Italy (2003), $28.2 billion
8. South Korea (2003), $21.1 billion
9. India (2005 est.), $19 billion
10. Saudi Arabia (2005 est.), $18 billion
World total military expenditures (2004 est.), $1,100 billion
World total (minus the United States), $500 billion
De Historische Collectie Grondgebonden Luchtverdediging (HCGLVD, voorheen HVGLVD) is ontstaan door samenvoeging van de Historische Verzameling Luchtdoelartilleriematerieel (Ede) en de traditiekamer van de Groep Geleide Wapens (Luchtmachtbasis De Peel).
De collectie biedt een overzicht van de ontwikkelingsgeschiedenis van de grondgebonden luchtverdediging vanaf 1915 tot heden.
De collectie is ondergebracht in twee hallen, tevens is er een buitenexpositie. Voor de medewerkers is er een gebouw met kantoren, een vergaderzaal en een werkplaats. Bezoekers kunnen zelfstandig alles bekijken en via de multimediazuilen extra informatie krijgen over de getoonde collectiestukken.
De Historische Collectie Grondgebonden Luchtverdediging (HCGLVD, voorheen HVGLVD) is ontstaan door samenvoeging van de Historische Verzameling Luchtdoelartilleriematerieel (Ede) en de traditiekamer van de Groep Geleide Wapens (Luchtmachtbasis De Peel).
De collectie biedt een overzicht van de ontwikkelingsgeschiedenis van de grondgebonden luchtverdediging vanaf 1915 tot heden.
De collectie is ondergebracht in twee hallen, tevens is er een buitenexpositie. Voor de medewerkers is er een gebouw met kantoren, een vergaderzaal en een werkplaats. Bezoekers kunnen zelfstandig alles bekijken en via de multimediazuilen extra informatie krijgen over de getoonde collectiestukken.
#cosmonaut #space #scubadiver #stars #moon #russian #red #coldwar #sketchpad #instaart #tattoo #nickvernoski #forsale
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After about four hours of snorkeling on a clear and sunny day, the ToyGantic was sighted lying on its side at a depth of about 10 feet. The ship was almost 2/3 submerged in fine silt, thanks to a shaft of sunlight a glint of metal and red paint were enough to pinpoint its location.
The USAF's overseas commitments grew with the start of the Cold War, and the service realized that it needed something even bigger than the C-124 Globemaster IIs then coming into service. Though the C-124 was a suitable aircraft, it was a bit underpowered, and loading large cargo into the Globemaster was difficult because of its high ground clearance. The advent of turboprop powerplants, so well proven by the then-new Lockheed C-130 Hercules, led the USAF to issue a requirement for a very heavy transport aircraft powered by turboprops. Douglas won the bid with the C-133A Cargomaster. It was the first U.S. Air Force aircraft to utilize turboprop engines.
Though they were built by two totally different companies, the C-133 bore some resemblance to the C-130—in some ways, it resembled a stretched out, larger Hercules. Like the C-130, the fuselage interior was left uncluttered by the landing gear, which was carried in side sponsons; also, like the C-130, a large rear loading door and ramp were included for quick loading—unlike the C-124, the C-133 sat low enough to the ground so that cargo could be loaded directly into the fuselage. So needed was the C-133 that Douglas skipped building a prototype and went straight into production. The first C-133A flew in April of 1956 and entered revenue service less than a year later.
The Cargomaster fit the USAF's requirements and was the perfect size to transport an entire Titan or Atlas missile as a single piece (the rockets were designed to be able to fit into the C-133's cargo bay); they would also be invaluable to NASA for transporting Saturn rocket pieces, or Gemini and Apollo capsules. The C-133 was not popular with some crews, however: a series of accidents occurred in the early 1960s, enough that the C-133 was dubbed as the "Widowmaker" by some crews. The crashes were traced to issues with propeller pitch and asymmetrical wing stalls; luckily, these problems were easily fixed.
Only 50 C-133s were ever built, and, lacking anything larger—the C-133's cargo capacity had even exceeded that of the jet-powered C-141A Starlifter—the USAF flew them far beyond their intended service life. Finally, by 1970, the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy was in service, and the Cargomasters could finally be retired. It was none too soon: one last crash occurred that year when a C-133 broke apart in midair. After the fleet was retired in 1971, most aircraft were found with fuselage cracks and corrosion, and of the 40 surviving Cargomasters, 33 were scrapped almost immediately. Seven aircraft survive today, and one C-133A—despite its age and hard use—remained operational with an Alaskan cargo airline until 2008.
This C-133A, BuNo 59-0527, is one of these lucky survivors. It was delivered to the 1501st Air Transport Wing (later the 60th Military Airlift Wing) at Travis AFB, California, in 1960. It would spend its entire career there, flying cargo across the Pacific, especially to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. It was among the last of the C-133s to be retired in 1971 and donated to the PASM in 1973.
59-0527 looks rough around the edges, resulting from decades of exposure to the desert air; hopefully, it will be cosmetically restored soon. This was not the first time I had seen a C-133; I had seen one at the NMUSAF in Dayton back in 2010, but it was the first one I could take a photo of as I had a camera on me.
Snapshot of an unidentified U.S. Navy sailor, wearing part of his white Navy uniform with a white T-shirt, standing in a hatchway on an unidentified ship, believed to be around 1946. Photograph taken while the sailor was serving with George E. King of Kinston, N.C., in the Navy [circa 1946] [Photograph printed by: The Picture Box, Kingston, N.C.].
From George E. King Sr. Photographs, CLDW 37, Cold War Papers, Military Collection, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.
Original photos taken on the 08/01/2010 — www.flickr.com/photos/139375961@N08/shares/U73k5039fN
The AMES Type 84, also known as the Microwave Early Warning or MEW, was a 23cm wavelength early warning radar used by the Royal Air Force as part of the Linesman/Mediator radar network. Operating in the L-band gave it improved performance in rain and hail, where the primary AMES Type 85 radar's performance dropped off. It operated beside the Type 85 and RX12874 in Linesman, and moved to the UKADGE system in the 1980's before being replaced during UKADGE upgrades in the early 1990's.
The Type 84 had a decade-long development period that saw the system being repeatedly redesigned. It was first conceived in 1951 during the ROTOR program as a megawatt-powered S-band system that would replace the WWII-era Chain Home radars for early warning. But an experimental system developed at the Royal Radar Establishment (RRE) offered similar performance and would be available long before the MEW's 1957 target date. Put into operation as the AMES Type 80 in 1953, the immediate need for MEW was eliminated. MEW was then assigned a lower priority and handed off to Marconi for further development.
A new concept emerged as an L-band counterpart to the Type 80, adding an advanced moving target indication (MTI) system. In this form, the system was ordered into production as the Type 84 in July 1957. That same month, concerns about the new carcinotron jammer grew. MEW was repositioned as an anti-jamming radar using a powerful 10 MW klystron, but this system failed to work. A 5 MW wide-band magnetron replaced the klystron, but this required a new MTI and antenna system as well. By the time these were ready the magnetron was not, and it finally settled on a 2.5 MW version, compromising its capability as an anti-jamming system.
During development, MEW was the primary radar of the Stage 2 ROTOR plans and was intended to hand-off targets to the Blue Envoy long-range missile. But the RRE once again trumped the Type 84 with their new Blue Yeoman design, which was much more powerful and offered frequency agility. Deployment of Type 84 went ahead anyway, largely because it was complete and offered a number of complimentary features. The first operational Type 84 was handed over to the RAF at RAF Bawdsey in October 1962. Three additional units came online during the 1960’s, and the fifth from the original order was instead sent to Cyprus and placed on Mount Olympus, the last unit shut down in 1994.
For more information and the source, please follow the link — en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMES_Type_84
The Sargo (SSN-583) is dressed for her launching at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 10 Oct 1957. She was commissioned 1 October 1958. Served our nation for almost thirty years until decommissioned 26 Feb 1988 at Pearl Harbor.
Luftfahrtmuseum Manfred Pflumm, Schwenningen (2013) - Germany
Hawker Sea Hawk Mk.100, VB+136 German Navy
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De Historische Collectie Grondgebonden Luchtverdediging (HCGLVD, voorheen HVGLVD) is ontstaan door samenvoeging van de Historische Verzameling Luchtdoelartilleriematerieel (Ede) en de traditiekamer van de Groep Geleide Wapens (Luchtmachtbasis De Peel).
De collectie biedt een overzicht van de ontwikkelingsgeschiedenis van de grondgebonden luchtverdediging vanaf 1915 tot heden.
De collectie is ondergebracht in twee hallen, tevens is er een buitenexpositie. Voor de medewerkers is er een gebouw met kantoren, een vergaderzaal en een werkplaats. Bezoekers kunnen zelfstandig alles bekijken en via de multimediazuilen extra informatie krijgen over de getoonde collectiestukken.
De Historische Collectie Grondgebonden Luchtverdediging (HCGLVD, voorheen HVGLVD) is ontstaan door samenvoeging van de Historische Verzameling Luchtdoelartilleriematerieel (Ede) en de traditiekamer van de Groep Geleide Wapens (Luchtmachtbasis De Peel).
De collectie biedt een overzicht van de ontwikkelingsgeschiedenis van de grondgebonden luchtverdediging vanaf 1915 tot heden.
De collectie is ondergebracht in twee hallen, tevens is er een buitenexpositie. Voor de medewerkers is er een gebouw met kantoren, een vergaderzaal en een werkplaats. Bezoekers kunnen zelfstandig alles bekijken en via de multimediazuilen extra informatie krijgen over de getoonde collectiestukken.
The early warning Bedstead Radar the cold war trappings.One of many around the British Isles in those days to give us early warning of aircraft on the western side of the country.Scan from the negative collection.
During the Cold War, Canada had troops in West Germany, and accordingly, there were Canadian Boy Scout troops for children of Canadian servicemen at Canadian Forces Bases in Baden and Lahr.
Scouts Canada National Museum; Nepean; Ottawa, Ontario.
The Rotor programme was developed to advance the wartime radar technology in detecting and locating fast-flying jets. It was approved by the Air Council in June 1950. The first stage of the programme, Rotor 1, was to technically restore existing Chain Home, centrimetric early warning, Chain Home Extra Low and Ground Controlled Interception Stations and put them under the control of RAF Fighter Command. There were three main components to the Rotor Stations: the technical site, including the radars, operation blocks and other installations; the domestic site, where personnel were accommodated; and the stand-by set house, a reserve power supply. The technical site for RAF Neatishead Rotor Station was located at TG 346 184. Crew were accommodated at RAF Coltishall and the stand-by set house was located at TG 342 200.
The two main constructions at Rotor stations were the operations block and guardhouse. Operations blocks were the largest structures built at Rotor stations. They were constructed of reinforced concrete and designed to withstand 2,000lb bombs. The outer walls and roof of the Rotor operations blocks were 9ft 10in thick and the internal walls between 5.9in to 1ft 11in metres wide. The exterior was coated with an asphalt damp course and surrounded by a 5.9in brick wall. The roof was usually flush with the ground surface and up to 14 ft 2in of earth was mounded on top. The operations blocks, identified by a 'R' prefix, contained technical equipment, domestic facilities, workshops and a plant for air conditioning and gas filtration, all within a single complex.
Four of the blocks (R1-R4) were underground constructions designed for the more vulnerable sites on the east and south-east coasts. Others were semi-submerged (R6) or above ground (R5, R7-R11) heavily protected structures built to withstand 1,000lb bombs. The guardhouses were designed to resemble ''bungalows''. They were single-storey buildings capped with a flat, concrete roof, above which a pitched roof contained water tanks. They were generally constructed of brick, but were built to blend in with the local architectural style. The guard rooms also contained an armoury, store, rest room and lavatories. Those associated with underground operations blocks featured a projecting rear annex that housed a stairwell leading down to an access tunnel.
Aerial photography from 1965 shows the R3 operations bunker at the site, as well as a Type 13, a Type 7 and four Type 14 radar plinths. A range of ancillary buildings survive. The area is part of an active base and museum. In March 1947 the station was established as a Sector Operations Centre. Between 1961 to 1963 the station was reduced to care and maintenance and was then reopened as a Master Radar Station. A fire in 1966 destroyed the underground operations complex and the station was closed until 1974 with a new data-handling system occupying the original Happidrome. In 1994 the Air Defence Radar Museum opened at the site, which also continues to serve as an operational base.
Personal experience of working at Neatishead communicated by email states ''I was posted there as a sgt in 1973 and it was fully operational, T85, T84, HF200 and more all working. Furthermore, the other half of my Locking entry was posted there in 1971 and all worked on the operational radars, txs and rxs. I left in 1976 and visited again in 1977. T85, stuff of legends, 60Mw with all 12 Txs running''. Detailed history of the 50 years of the founding of RAF Neatishead 1941-1991. R30 operations room, R12 Radar equipment building and R3 underground operations block; Listed. For the designation records of this site please see The National Heritage List for England. Decommissioned 2006 and sold. Feb 2013, 25 acres of the site were again sold. The Air Defence Radar Museum was not part of the sale.
Information sourced from — www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?ui...
This Royal Observer Corps Bunker known as 'Swaffham Post' was in use from 1957 to 1968. The ventilation shaft of the bunker has been removed but it is otherwise intact with the internal furnishings still present.
There is a Type-22 Pillbox nearby with a Royal Observer Corps Observation Post built brick on top.
At the Titan Missile Museum outside Tucson. This is in the launch control room which had just more cool blinky cold war technology than should be allowed. Just behind Ned here is the panel where (in case of impending nuclear holocaust) the missile crew would enter the launch codes that would send the silo's lone Titan missile off to one of three anonymous targets.
In March 1983, three days before my twelfth birthday, Ronald Reagan made a speech to the National Association of Evangelicals in Orlando, Florida, passionately denouncing the 'evil empire' and in so doing angering Soviet leaders because he was talking about the Soviet Union. In the former store room at Hack Green, a declassified nuclear bunker, there is an exhibition of Soviet uniforms and hardware, reminding visitors of the place's raison d'etre because, had it not been for the Soviet threat, then this bunker wouldn't have been built.
I may have quite an extensive collection of Communist badges & medals (mainly East German and Soviet) but I am under no illusion as to how life would have been like under a totalitarian regime. As for the Russian Mafia and the Neo-Nazi movement, I don't think they would have been tolerated, although the former did originate in the former Soviet Union, which I find strange.
This military installation is the transmitter site (TX site) for nearby RAF Neatishead, it houses the transmitter building for the VHF, UHF and high power HF transmitters for the controllers at RAF Neatishead for aircraft communication.
Original site visit photos from 18th June 2010 – www.flickr.com/photos/139375961@N08/shares/10y2BD8GdM
The Remote Radar Head Neatishead (RRH Neatishead), is an air defence radar site operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF). Originally known as Royal Air Force Station Neatishead, or commonly RAF Neatishead, it was established during the World War II, and consists of the main technical site located at Neatishead, together with a number of remote, and sometimes unmanned sites.
The station motto is Caelum Tuemur, meaning ''We Watch over the Sky''. The station badge depicts the lowered head of a horned bull; and relates to the origins of the word 'Neatishead', meaning 'the vassal's household'. RAF Neatishead was previously 'parented' (for administrative and support functions) by the nearby RAF Coltishall (a fighter station latterly operating four squadrons of the ground-attack SEPECAT Jaguar). Following the closure of RAF Coltishall in 2006, RRH Neatishead became parented by RAF Marham in West Norfolk.
When RAF Neatishead was first established, its primary function was as a 'Control and Reporting Centre' (CRC) for the south of the United Kingdom. Equipment previously located in the base included: Type 7 GCI, AN/FPS-6 height finding radar, Type 80 'Green Garlic' radar, Type 84 radar, Type 85 'Blue Yeoman' radar, 3 Decca (later Plessey) HF200 height finding radars, and a R15 radar.
On 16th February 1966, a fire broke out in the bunker, RAF station fire teams were unsuccessful in putting the fire out and so local civilian fire crews were called. Three civilian firefighters died and the fire burned for nine days before it was fully extinguished. Later that year, LAC Cheeseman was sentenced to seven years for starting the fire and causing the deaths. The station was closed for eight years, re-opening in 1974 after a major rebuild of the bunker complex.
The operational nature of the work undertaken at Neatishead was transferred to the previously mothballed site at RAF Bawdsey in 1966, with Bawdsey reverting to a care and maintenance programme when Neatishead came back on line in 1974. In November 1982, Group Captain Joan Hopkins took command of the station, becoming the first female RAF officer to take command of an operational station. During July 1990 the Type 85 radar was decommissioned after 23 years of use, it was replaced by the Type 93.
In April 2004, the decision was taken to substantially reduce activities at RAF Neatishead, and by 2006, the base had been downgraded from an RAF station to Remote Radar Head (RRH) status, but its adjacent museum remains open. Its former gate guardian, a F-4 Phantom previously based at RAF Wattisham, was cut up for scrap in 2005 despite interest from the Radar Museum. In October 2006, local news media reported that a buyer had been found for the now disused section of the base. The 25½ acres site was advertised again in January 2010, with an asking price of £4,000,000. The site was subsequently purchased for an undisclosed amount by Zimbabwean-born British entrepreneur William Sachiti.
RRH Neatishead controls the remote site of RRH Trimingham with its Lockheed TPS 77 radar. It forms part of the UK's air defences – namely the UK 'Air Surveillance And Control System' (ASACS), and is part of the larger NATO air defence. RRH Neatishead is adjacent to the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum. In July 2022, it was announced that the radar equipment at RAF Trimingham would be moved 8 miles to the RRH Neatishead site due to the threat of coastal erosion, and the increased interference experienced by radar operators from the off-shore wind turbines; the move was completed by the end of 2023.
Information sourced from – en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Neatishead
This is a microwave communications relay tower, and at the base an underground cable repeater hut. This is a coldwar relic. The four antennae on top the microwave tower are for high-powered UHF in support of FEMA and other US Agencies. This located near Monrovia, MD in sight of the old 75-80 Dragway.
The J58 engine was developed in the late 1950s by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Division of United Aircraft Corp. to meet a U.S. Navy requirement. It was designed to operate at speeds of Mach 3+ and at altitudes of more than 80,000 feet. The J58 was the first engine designed to operate for extended periods using its afterburner, and it was the first engine to be flight-qualified at Mach 3 for the U.S. Air Force.
Two J58s powered the highly-sophisticated Lockheed SR-71 high-altitude strategic reconnaissance aircraft as well as its forerunners, the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A prototype interceptor. In July 1976, J58 engines powered an SR-71 to a world altitude record of 85,069 feet and another SR-71 to a world speed record of 2,193 mph.
TECHNICAL NOTES:
Model: J58
Compressor: Nine-stage, axial flow, single speed
Turbine: Two-stage axial
Weight: Approx. 6,000 lbs.
Thrust: 32,500 lbs. with afterburner
Maximum operating altitude: above 80,000 ft.
Crafty Cold War make and take beneath the 1960s BOAC Boeing 707 fuselage.
50 years after the Cuban Missile Crisis, the National Museum of Flight will take you back in time to experience what life was like in the middle of the Cold War.
Find out more about the Cold War Experience here.
Former Civil Defence bunker i Skanderborg, Denmark. Built i a unfinished german WW2 bunker. Preserved in unique unaltered 'cold war' state and i now a museum.
Den tidlige beredskabskab bunker i Skanderborg. Bygget i ikke færdigbygget tysk bunker fra 2. verdenskrig. Bevaret i unik og uforandret stand som da den kolde krig sluttede.
This wonderful book manages to be both creative and insightful, documenting life behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War in words and graphic design. Peter Sis's use of color in his intricate illustrations highlights and enhances the matter-of-fact language of his text. He has managed to create a journal, biography, and social/historical commentary that is fascinating reading for older children and adults alike.
The centrifuge building (National Trust building E 1) lies just to the west of the Vibration Test buildings and is a rectangular concrete structure with gable ends to the north and south. It was originally entered from the west through 2 doorways which have subsequently been sealed with breeze blocks. In the southern opening a steel cage door has recently been inserted. Immediately to the north of the door opening is a small square opening to the washroom. At eaves height on the west wall are two metal ventilation grills, also on this wall are various small bore electrical pipes. The north gable is blank apart form a small square opening. The north and east sides of the building are protected by a shingle traverse supported by concrete wing walls on the north-west and south-east corners. The building is covered by a gently pitched roof supported on three RSJ girders with angle iron purlins supporting insulation boards and the pressed metal outer cladding.
The interior of the centrifuge was lit by sealed fluorescent units and heated by radiators on all walls. In the centre of the building is the circular brick-lined centrifuge pit with a diameter of c.8m and depth of c.2.5m. In the centre of the pits the central mounting plate for the centrifuge with a cable duct leading to the north east corner and a lower self contained equipment room. To the south west, north east and south east the pits’ brick wall is interrupted by a concrete section, above which may mark the position of the framework to support the centrifuge and its turning gear. To the south a set of concrete stairs provides access into the pit. It is finished in green paint, the remainder of the interior is yellow. A ledge running at eaves height along the east and west walls formerly supported an overhead travelling crane. At the north end of the building are two self contained instrumentation rooms and a door in the east wall that gave access to the emergency escape passage and the pressed metal outer cladding.
The Missile handling facilities consist of two rectangular concrete areas with reinforced concrete retaining walls and a grassed bank around three sides, these are the Ready Use Stores (RUS) for side lifting Missile Transporters.
In 1950 Bawdsey was selected to become part of the ROTOR Programme, to update Great Britain's Radar cover after World War Two. It consisted of many sites with huge Underground Bunkers to withstand conventional bombing. In 1958 an AMES Type 80 Mk3 was installed with 2 AN/FPS-6 US made Radars. RAF Bawdsey was manned by 144 Signals Unit from 11 Group and together with 6 other Stations in the Eastern Sector it offered cover from 30 minutes before dawn to 30 minutes after sunset as there was no night cover.
The site of RAF Bawdsey Radar Station built in the early 1950's as part of the ROTOR Programme to modernise the United Kingdom's Radar Defences. This was a replacement Station for the Chain Home Station at RAF Bawdsey, located to the south of this Site. The ROTOR Station was fitted with a Type 7 Mk3 Radar Head for local search and control, two Type 14 (Mk8 and Mk9) Plan Positioning Radar Heads, four Type 13 Mk6 and two Type 13 Mk7 Height Finder Radar Heads, and three Type 54 Mk3 Radar Heads for Search and Control with no IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) The Radar Heads were mounted on plinths and 25ft gantries, apart from the Type 54 arrays that were mounted on 20ft Towers. The site was equipped with a Guardhouse designed to resemble a 'bungalow' which gave access to a two-storey, Underground R3 Operations Block. The R3 Bunker was completed in 1954. Newly developed Type 80 Radar and its associated Modulator Building was installed in 1958, with two AN/FPS 6 Height Finding Radars. By 1963 RAF Bawdsey had become a Master Radar Station, but in June 1964 it switched to operating as a Satellite Station to RAF Neatishead in Norfolk. It resumed Master Radar Station status in 1966 until 1974, after a fire damaged RAF Neatishead's Control Centre. Bawdsey closed in 1975 and in 1977 features of the ROTOR Station were demolished, including Plinths, Towers and the Type 80 Modulator Building.
As a site of national importance the Cold War Bloodhound Mark II Missile Site survives intact apart from the removal of the Missiles and their Associated Mobile Equipment. In 1979 RAF Bawdsey reopened as a Bloodhound Mk2 Surface to Air (SAM) Missile Site. The Guardhouse also remains in a derelict condition, and is still attached to the R3 Bunker via an Access Tunnel, the R3 Bunker is disused and has been sealed shut.
The Bloodhound Missile Site is located within the Perimeter of the early 1950's Radar Station of RAF Bawdsey, the Missile Section became active in July 1979 as C Flight of 85 Squadron and remained Operational until the 31st of May 1990. The Flight was divided into two sections, each of which was equipped with six Fixed Concrete Missile Pads, the remainder of its Equipment was Semi-Portable. The Bloodhound Missiles were controlled from Launch Control Posts (LCP's) set on hardstandings and surrounded by an protective earthwork bank, they were connected to the Target Illuminating Radar by cables. Initially the Flight was equipped with two Type 87 Radars mounted on angular Steel Plinths, colloquially known as `Daleks'. In 1988 these were replaced by two smaller Air-Portable Type 86 Radars. These were mounted on top of 4.26m Steel Gantries built over the `Daleks'. Some of the earlier Radar Station Buildings were reused by the Bloodhound Unit, including the Guard House (which retained its original function) an Operations Room was placed in the R3 Bunker and the 1950's Type 80 Radar Modulator Building was converted for use as a Workshop. Ready Use Stores (containing spare Missiles) were simple Concrete Hardstandings. Other structures on site include, buildings for an RAF Dog Section, a Store, a Garage, a Hut of undertermined function, an Explosive Fitment Bay, an Office and a Stand-By Set House.
Examples of Bristol Bloodhound Missiles at RAF Neatishead Radar Museum :-
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An early radar station built on top of Beachy Head in 1937. In 1950's the RAF built their radar station 40-50 feet (12-15m) underground Known as ROTAR still under Beach Head but no access now.
The Rotor programme was developed to advance the wartime radar technology in detecting and locating fast-flying jets. It was approved by the Air Council in June 1950. The first stage of the programme, Rotor 1, was to technically restore existing Chain Home, centrimetric early warning, Chain Home Extra Low and Ground Controlled Interception Stations and put them under the control of RAF Fighter Command. There were three main components to the Rotor Stations: the technical site, including the radars, operation blocks and other installations; the domestic site, where personnel were accommodated; and the stand-by set house, a reserve power supply. The technical site for RAF Neatishead Rotor Station was located at TG 346 184. Crew were accommodated at RAF Coltishall and the stand-by set house was located at TG 342 200.
The two main constructions at Rotor stations were the operations block and guardhouse. Operations blocks were the largest structures built at Rotor stations. They were constructed of reinforced concrete and designed to withstand 2,000lb bombs. The outer walls and roof of the Rotor operations blocks were 9ft 10in thick and the internal walls between 5.9in to 1ft 11in metres wide. The exterior was coated with an asphalt damp course and surrounded by a 5.9in brick wall. The roof was usually flush with the ground surface and up to 14 ft 2in of earth was mounded on top. The operations blocks, identified by a 'R' prefix, contained technical equipment, domestic facilities, workshops and a plant for air conditioning and gas filtration, all within a single complex.
Four of the blocks (R1-R4) were underground constructions designed for the more vulnerable sites on the east and south-east coasts. Others were semi-submerged (R6) or above ground (R5, R7-R11) heavily protected structures built to withstand 1,000lb bombs. The guardhouses were designed to resemble ''bungalows''. They were single-storey buildings capped with a flat, concrete roof, above which a pitched roof contained water tanks. They were generally constructed of brick, but were built to blend in with the local architectural style. The guard rooms also contained an armoury, store, rest room and lavatories. Those associated with underground operations blocks featured a projecting rear annex that housed a stairwell leading down to an access tunnel.
Aerial photography from 1965 shows the R3 operations bunker at the site, as well as a Type 13, a Type 7 and four Type 14 radar plinths. A range of ancillary buildings survive. The area is part of an active base and museum. In March 1947 the station was established as a Sector Operations Centre. Between 1961 to 1963 the station was reduced to care and maintenance and was then reopened as a Master Radar Station. A fire in 1966 destroyed the underground operations complex and the station was closed until 1974 with a new data-handling system occupying the original Happidrome. In 1994 the Air Defence Radar Museum opened at the site, which also continues to serve as an operational base.
Personal experience of working at Neatishead communicated by email states ''I was posted there as a sgt in 1973 and it was fully operational, T85, T84, HF200 and more all working. Furthermore, the other half of my Locking entry was posted there in 1971 and all worked on the operational radars, txs and rxs. I left in 1976 and visited again in 1977. T85, stuff of legends, 60Mw with all 12 Txs running''. Detailed history of the 50 years of the founding of RAF Neatishead 1941-1991. R30 operations room, R12 Radar equipment building and R3 underground operations block; Listed. For the designation records of this site please see The National Heritage List for England. Decommissioned 2006 and sold. Feb 2013, 25 acres of the site were again sold. The Air Defence Radar Museum was not part of the sale.
Information sourced from — www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?ui...