Following the First World War, protecting the
UK from attack was discussed at great length. But it was
not until 1934, when an air-defence exercise to test
defence was carried out that things really started to get
going.
Although the targets and routes of the exercise were
known, more than half the bombers managed to get through
to their targets. This led to the Air Ministry looking at
the idea of radio "death rays" which would eliminate or
disable pilots and their aircraft. The Scots physicist
Robert Watson-Watt, supervisor of a national radio
research laboratory and descendant of James Watt, inventor
of the first practical steam engine, was contacted and
asked for his views.
Watson-Watt dismissed the idea of death rays but said that
radio beams could be bounced off enemy aircraft to detect
them. He then drew up a memo outlining his ideas and
although it was met with enthusiasm, proof that the system
could work was demanded.
On 26 February 1935, Watson-Watt and Arnold Wilkins
successfully demonstrated their system using a BBC
transmitter which managed to pick up a bomber being used
as a test target.
In May 1935 Watson-Watt, Wilkins and a small team of
scientists moved to Orfordness to conduct a series of
historic experiments over the sea that would lead to the
world’s first working ‘RADAR’ system. It soon became
apparent that Orfordness was inadequate for further
research and Bawdsey Manor Estate was purchased for
£24,000.
In February 1936 the research scientists occupied Bawdsey
Manor House and the stables and outbuildings were
converted into workshops. 240ft wooden receiver towers and
360ft steel transmitter towers were built and Bawdsey
became the first Chain Home Radar Station. By the outbreak
of World War 2 a chain of radar stations was in place
around the coast of Britain.
These radar stations were to prove invaluable during the
Second World War and particularly during the Battle of
Britain. With 2,600 Luftwaffe planes to the RAF's 640, it
was the use of radar that saved the day.
As a high-priority target for the Luftwaffe, Bawdsey
didn't get off lightly and 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.
During WW2, RAF Bawdsey was identified as a potential
target and in September 1939 was protected by three 40mm
Bofors guns and two .303 Lewis anti-aircraft guns. With an
increased fear of a German invasion, these defences were
supplement in 1940 by slit trenches, sandbag gun
emplacements, a concrete gun post and at least ten type 24
pillboxes; nine of these still survive.
There were several attacks on the station during 1940
which did little damage with no casualties and on 18th
October 1940 anti-aircraft gunners shot down a German
bomber. Sporadic attacks continued over the following
three years with some loss of life; the last bombing raid
near Bawdsey was on 30th June 1944. A V1 rocket crashed on
the beach on 21st September 1944 and a V2 detonated over
the sea on 9th October.
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.
Sadly, the last of the giant transmitter masts came down
in 2000, but the transmitter and receiver blocks and
underground bunkers …
Main Operational Units:
Radar Station and radar development station. (Chain, Chain
Low and Type 55)
No 2711 Sqn RAF Regiment
No 5 Radio School (10 Oct 1946 - 20 Jun 1950)
School of Control and Reporting (6 Jan 1964 - 1 Oct 1968)
School of Fighter Control (1 Oct 1968 - 31 Oct 1974)
'C' Flt, 85 Sqn (19 Dec 1975 - 1 Dec 1990) |
