i didnt think it was a z battery,thats the first mention of rockets, more photos ,2 more of chadwell heath,the racking i mentioned,and one of the control bunkers(probably not called that)where predictor etc was,the control bunker for other 4 guns is larger. my knowledge on aa is limited,you can see the holes for different guns guns they used. and three photos from north weald redoubt
Griffon, latest plan for Rob and me is to meet up Saturday 3rd July. Time to be agreed but I would suggest meeting in the Country Park car park. Fancy coming along? Gives us time for a bit more research between then and now. Mike
sounds good mike,but recommend meeting at the good intent pub,just like the raf personel did 70 years ago,or do a max bygraves (fitter at hornchurch )have a sing song down the elm park hotel (maybe not)
Griffon/Rob, Sorted out a few things for the airfield visitStill can't retrieve the CAD drawing from my other computer but I have a couple of prints. Also have a few copies of airfield maps and OS maps from the period and a schedule of buildings on the site from 1942. Did you see the '2 Men in a Trench' programme about the airfield a few years ago? I have some info from that too. The Chadwell Heath site looks great on Google Earth - have to arrange a trip there too! Mike
yes i saw that show,its a shame they didnt carry on digging ,john the park ranger said they could of returned for another show.and the local kids hassled security for the tent through the night. ive been waiting for that to be repeated . mike i have another question -every time i went by tube into london(first pointed out by grandad bill)before dagenham east station was a large graffiti covered observation post and many dragons teeth next to the tracks,as you probably know stop line went up from the thames(anti tank blocks crow lane) i finally last summer had a look ,and its all gone,exept some pimples next to what looks like a anti tank ditch leading to a pill box did you ever take a look? ive love to find a plan of the stop line ,and how it looks now iv just had a look at google earth,the stop line must of used the river,going south from dag east,theres a pill box london side just south of clemence rd
Griffon, yes I remember that OP or whatever it was at Dagenham East. Went there a couple of times with my mates from school. From what I can remember it was quite a big structure but there wasn't much to see. It's quite a few years ago now! I looked for it last time I went into town by train and you're right - gone. I must look into the stop lines a bit more. Tried the Defence of Britain database a while ago and was a bit disappointed about what I could (or couldn't) find there. Think I'll try again. I will also go to Hornchurch library and see if I can find anything else on the airfield in the reference section. Mike
Mike and Griffon: sorry chaps but I have no more detailed info on Hornchurch apart from the LiDAR survey. Good luck with your quest. CS
Capt Sensible, thanks for posting the link to the LIDAR survey, don't know how I missed it first time. The CAD plan we discussed a while ago is in the thumbnail in post27 above. Still not finished it! Mike
Capt Sensible, thanks for posting the link to the LIDAR survey, don't know how I missed it first time. The CAD plan we discussed a while ago is in the thumbnail in post27 above. Still not finished it! Mike Work in progress then, Look forward to seeing it one day perhaps on the forum CS
no worries c.s,lidar reports were great mike ,it was impressive there were multiple rows of dragons teeth,now just a nice row of pimples,by the lake and going down to the pill box,,how would i get a plan of that area of outer defence ring, kew?
Griffon, not sure mate. I've been to Kew several times but not looking for stop lines or local defence info. Best I can suggest at the mo is to see if there is anything on TNA online catalogue. Have you tried Defence of Britain?
Mike/Griffon Just picked up on this thread, I have recently moved away from Hornchurch but have got many pics of both the old airfield defences, and also the dragons teeth you mention near dagenham east tube, BUT, they aint digital but the old 35mm, if anyone remembers them!! (LOL) I also have, somewhere, the airfield plans produced by those great chaps at ATB. Once I am fully up and dancing on T'internet I will try! and scan some of the pics in..... watch this space (another task I have set myself) Regards andy
Just had a look at the DoB layer in GoogleEarth. Plenty of features to the NE of the airfield, including a Tett turret but no apparent definition of stopline. I'm not sure that stoplines applied to London - wasn't there a series of defended locales around road junctions etc? I was up that way earlier in the week and spotted a ?type 22 pillbox not recorded by the DoB on land just south of the former Isolation Hospital and west of the river at 51 31 52.12 N, 0 10 04.73 E. Might go back and get a photo.. CS
andy that would be great ,was it just the structure and dragons teeth or was there anything else?did the building have weapon mounts? c.s only on ps3 browser at mo,(please dont laugh)can only do google maps im trying to think where you mean,i know theres 1 not mentioned east of airfield past the hospital,(iv heard theres tett turretts on hospital land,i wonder if the tunnels are blocked?)i think there was three stop lines,stop line outer A went up from thames via river beam?dagenham east st,crow lane,using the railway,rivers or where needed man made ditches/embankments,with pill boxes,fire traps dotted along, crossing points(nodals?)had the blocks and teeth etc,sorry if im telling you how to suck an egg.iv often wondered ,where did it go after crow lane?
Griffon, The pillbox I noticed is on the west bank of the Beam River, about 500m north of the A1306 and at about TQ 505 836. I suppose it must have been part of Stop line A .
c.s i think thats the one i mentioned in an earlier post,the river is the anti tank ditch,as you go north to dagenham east station,the pimples from the bridge stretch across and down to the river,not forgetting the many(now gone, dragons teeth lining the railtracks ,leading to the ob post, top of crow lane, some large anti tank blocks remain,but the pill boxes in back gardens have gone edit,yes thats the one,follow the river up to dagenham rd,the river/ditch forks and follows the road down to the roundabout,and where the ditch goes up to the bull roundabout im pretty sure theres a block in the bank that you can see when you drive down to a13 off of that roundabout ,on your left
Andy, the ATB plans would be great if you can find them. I will pm you email address if you don't mind sharing? Any idea if they are based on the 1942 plan? Thats the one I have. Griffon, CS, still trying to id these on maps/GE. Sounds like another little tour round to see/photo these. Mike
