RAF Bawdsey Radar Station - Venturing solo into the underground reserve transmitter block

[@adienowed6366]

Fascinating and extremely interesting. As a teenager in 1960,my parents moved to Kingston in Dorset,right next to Worth Matravers,where much radar development was done right at the start of the war,including centimetric radar. That was fascinating as a teenager and got me into electronics as a hobby. Sadly now so much gone from those years in the 60's when I explored every possible nook and cranny of the crumbling structures,and gained an enduring lifelong fascination for such history.

[@frontlineulster]

Thanks for the comment! Im glad you liked the beep. What a fascinating insight, it’s great to hear you appreciated what was around you and it has led to a continued interest! Hopefully I can continue to satisfy some of that curiosity.

[@scaniamanbert]

I did my operator training on the camp and in the Rotor station in 1969 and was there again 18 months later for a short time and didn't know it was there. They still had one of the chain home masts there then too. Great find.

[@frontlineulster]

Incredible! The buried reserve sits just outside the boundary fence of the ROTOR and Bloodhound site, it’s very easy to miss. I had spent time at the museum and wandered into the trees to have a look at the chain home mast base I could see, then stumbled across the buried reserve. I’d read lots about them, but to see one in person and for it to the one at the home of British radar was incredible. Thanks for your comment!

[@DRSEXPLORING]

Brilliant video, glad to see it has not been vandalized.

[@frontlineulster]

It was a total surprise. I hadn't done much research before I went to visit the radar museum. After being somewhat underwhelmed by the museum, and having travelled so far I wandered into the woods and couldn't believe what remained. It's a really special site, and I hope it remains that way.

[@paulwalker4763]

I was stationed there in the early to mid 80s. Fab place.

[@stevecowham1017]

My father was stationed at Bawdsey. We lived in Alderton, where I was born. His name is Alan Cowham, a Flight Lieutenant, fighter controller. I think he was stationed there in the early 60's and early 70's.

[@jimbo658]

When I was about 7 until 10 years old about 72-75 we lived at RAF Bawdsey. In one of those lovely white houses overlooking the Deben. It was a fantastic place to live as a kid. To the left of the white houses, and stretching back quite far, where the car park is now was woodland...we were always playing in there. There was an abandonded chapel/hall in those woods. There was a pillbox at the back of the playing fields, still there, but totally grown over looking at google earth. Also, just at the back of the houses were proper subfloor air raid shelters. They are still there but were capped off (not filled) because we kids were always going down them. I bet no one knows they are there. Also, at the front of the Manor, in the field was a small swimming pool, full of newts and frogs...that must have been filled in. A great playground for a kid.

[@frontlineulster]

That's incredible, thanks for sharing. It's a beautiful area and I can only imagine what it must have been like at the height of the war and immediatelyk after. The Chain Home aerials would have been very imposing, and the construction of the ROTOR station and missile site must have continued the intrigue of locals.

[@jonsymmonds1120]

Nice explore. You got a new sub on this one!

[@frankbumstead3838]

I'm Interested in this Subject, thanks for your hard work in explaining these Radar Stations.

[@frontlineulster]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it useful. Wartime sites fascinate me, they are the invention of necessity, and despite being mostly stripped out we can still work out much of what their purpose was.

[@andylake9793]

I spent a few daysthere painting a bowser and a radar building

[@frontlineulster]

Depending how long ago that was it might need another coat 🙄

[@andylake9793]

@@frontlineulster Probably 89ish

[@bearded653]

ww2 explorer myself but this is just awesome. 🙏had too sub as this is a good video,

[@frontlineulster]

Thanks! I'm still trying to find my filming style, but I enjoy making this video. It was genuinely unexpected that I would find the buried reserve, but luckily I had the GoPro with me. I'll try my best to make more videos like this in the future.

[@charlesmiles9115]

😛😛😛😛😛❤❤❤👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@foamer443]

I'm surprised some homeless person hasn't taken up residence.

[@frontlineulster]

It's a little remote and quite damp. Perhaps somewhere to pin as a doomsday escape location!

[@richardmarshall4322]

I think the bases were for the receiving towers. In a rhombus shape. 4 timber towers with 4 bases each. Towers were 180 ft. The steel transmitting towers were 320 ft on larger bases. 4 towers in a line. The base of the building was i think the receiver building. Fairly sure they sat in the middle of the 4 towers. Reserve was underground

[@sonix7119]

Cheers man !!! :)