Our visit is to what was the first fully operational radar station in the world.
Post WW1 Britain’s air defence warning systems were practically non-existent. Following a test in 1934, more than half of the bombers involved in the exercise got past the defences, despite their routes being known. This had to change.
Scottish physicist Robert Watson-Watt, supervisor of a national radio research laboratory and his assistant, Arnold “Skip” Wilkins undertook the challenge and in February 1935 demonstrated the feasibility of ‘aircraft detection by radio waves’. On 24th September 1937, RAF Bawdsey became the first fully operational Radar station in the world.
Remarkably, this was only a short eighteen months after the first experiment, conducted by Robert Watson Watt and Arnold Wilkins, which established that by using transmitted radio waves it was possible to detect an approaching aircraft.
Radar stations such as Bawdsey were to prove invaluable intelligence during the Second World War and particularly during the Battle of Britain when 2,600 Luftwaffe planes were set against the RAF’s 640. As a high-priority target for the Luftwaffe, Bawdsey didn’t get off lightly. It was bombed on at least 12 occasions. However, huge earth revetments supported by reinforced concrete walls and a roof specially designed to dissipate the force of an overhead blast, prevented the destruction of the station.
Bawdsey was used as an RAF base through the Cold War until the 1990s when the Bloodhound Missile was the last ‘tenant’ in this base. On 31st May 1990 the Bloodhound force ceased operations and in June all the missiles were withdrawn to RAF West Raynham. The RAF Ensign was lowered for the last time on the 25th March 1991 and the station closed on the 31st March. The last of the giant transmitter masts being demolished in 2000. Radar Station entry about £8pp.
Meet at an earlier than usual time of 8.50am B&Q South off Hall Road Norwich NR4 6FB for 9.05 departure.
Pick up others enroute at Dennington Queen car park, IP13 8AB approx. 9.50/10am. we will slow but not wait, just tag on the end to join. From Dennington about 25mins run to Wild Blackberry Café, Swann’s Nursery, off A1152 near Eyke IP12 2PN. Time for coffee & food (none at Bawdsey Radar). Leave cafe 11.10am run to the radar station approx. 20 minutes, IP12 3BA, ‘what3words’ ///affirming.joys.scuba eta 12 noon.
Leaving by 2pm we can detour for Bawdsey harbour then at 2.30pm start our return run stopping at 3.30pm for Vincents Motor Works (ex Cleverley Repaired) at Stradbroke. We will have used mainly B roads up to now but the A140 is our best bet to get back to Norwich.
Sign up for David’s mid week run.
David
Kevin & Tamsin
Laurie
Peter & Allie at Cafe
Richard
Rona & Phil
