Royal Air Force Bawdsey or more simply RAF Bawdsey is a former Royal Air Forcestation situated on the eastern coast in Suffolk, England. Also known as Bawdsey Research Station (BRS), the first Chain Home radar station was built there, characterized by eight tall masts, four for transmitting and four for receiving. When the research group moved to Dundee in September 1939, the radar station was left active under the name RAF Bawdsey. The site later hosted a Bristol Bloodhoundsurface-to-air missile station until 1990, with the station closing in 1991.
Bawdsey Manor, dating from 1886, was taken over in March 1936 by the Air Ministry for developing the Chain Home (CH) RDF (radar) system. The station's Superintendent was initially Robert Watson-Watt, later followed by A.P. Rowe. The experimental radar station was located just northeast of the Manor, about 200 yards (180 m) distant. When war was declared in September 1939, fears of a possible commando raid on the group led to the development activities being relocated, first to Dundee, Scotland, and later to Worth Matravers near Swanage in Dorset on the southern coast of England, where they became the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE).
In the 1950s, the Bawdsey CH station was upgraded as part of the ROTOR programme and gained an underground control centre with living quarters and air filtration to make it capable of operating during nuclear attack. The command centre was accessed by way of a small bungalow which can be seen on the left of the road which runs from Bawdsey village to Bawdsey Manor.
The station was stood down for a number of years, but was re-opened in 1978 as a Bloodhound missile site, with the launchers located just to the northwest of the CH site. The missiles were moved to RAF West Raynham in July 1990 and the station closed in March 1991.[2]
Current useedit
The remains of the site are still fairly well preserved and will undergo restoration in 2017 due to a £1.4 million Lottery Grant.[3]
^Pine, L G (1983). A Dictionary of mottoes. London: Routledge & K. Paul. p. 80. ISBN071009339X.
^Historic England. "RAF Bawdsey (1309533)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 6 February 2017.
^"Bawdsey Radar Station set for restoration in 80th year". 5 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
External linksedit
"What did you do in the "Cold War" Dad?" Part 2 – Master Radar Station
Just tell us anything about you, Bawdsey and what happened after you left
RAF Bawdsey Chain Home Radar Station
January 01, 1970
bawdsey, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, february, 2013, learn, when, remove, this, message, royal, force, baw. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2013 Learn how and when to remove this message Royal Air Force Bawdsey or more simply RAF Bawdsey is a former Royal Air Force station situated on the eastern coast in Suffolk England Also known as Bawdsey Research Station BRS the first Chain Home radar station was built there characterized by eight tall masts four for transmitting and four for receiving When the research group moved to Dundee in September 1939 the radar station was left active under the name RAF Bawdsey The site later hosted a Bristol Bloodhound surface to air missile station until 1990 with the station closing in 1991 RAF BawdseyNear Felixstowe Suffolk in EnglandThe manor building at RAF Bawdsey during 1992First in the field 1 RAF BawdseyShown within SuffolkCoordinates51 59 32 N 001 24 10 E 51 99222 N 1 40278 E 51 99222 1 40278TypeRoyal Air Force stationSite informationOwnerMinistry of DefenceOperatorRoyal Air ForceConditionClosedSite historyBuilt1936 1936 In use1936 1991 1991 FateConverted into a boarding school which operated between 1994 and 2016 and later a holiday park Transmitter block now a radar museum Contents 1 History 2 Current use 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editBawdsey Manor dating from 1886 was taken over in March 1936 by the Air Ministry for developing the Chain Home CH RDF radar system The station s Superintendent was initially Robert Watson Watt later followed by A P Rowe The experimental radar station was located just northeast of the Manor about 200 yards 180 m distant When war was declared in September 1939 fears of a possible commando raid on the group led to the development activities being relocated first to Dundee Scotland and later to Worth Matravers near Swanage in Dorset on the southern coast of England where they became the Telecommunications Research Establishment TRE In the 1950s the Bawdsey CH station was upgraded as part of the ROTOR programme and gained an underground control centre with living quarters and air filtration to make it capable of operating during nuclear attack The command centre was accessed by way of a small bungalow which can be seen on the left of the road which runs from Bawdsey village to Bawdsey Manor The station was stood down for a number of years but was re opened in 1978 as a Bloodhound missile site with the launchers located just to the northwest of the CH site The missiles were moved to RAF West Raynham in July 1990 and the station closed in March 1991 2 Current use editThe remains of the site are still fairly well preserved and will undergo restoration in 2017 due to a 1 4 million Lottery Grant 3 See also editHistory of Radar Robert Watson WattReferences edit Pine L G 1983 A Dictionary of mottoes London Routledge amp K Paul p 80 ISBN 071009339X Historic England RAF Bawdsey 1309533 Research records formerly PastScape Retrieved 6 February 2017 Bawdsey Radar Station set for restoration in 80th year 5 February 2017 Retrieved 6 February 2017 External links edit Albert s Bus Russell Barnard What did you do in the Cold War Dad Part 2 Master Radar Station Just tell us anything about you Bawdsey and what happened after you left Bawdsey Radar Group RAF Bawdsey Chain Home Radar Station Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title RAF Bawdsey amp oldid 1213394235, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
