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Place mouse cursor over images and click to enlarge.
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| Entrance to the dispersal Shelter |
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| interior of the underground shelter in the aircraft dispersal |
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| The Old Guardhouse, this was the main entrance to the airfield |
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| Air raid shelter, this is on the southern edge of the airfield. |
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| this building is listed as a sleeping Shelter |
| Standby set house 15453/41 |
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| This housed the Generator now in use as a warehouse |
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| Hidden amongst the undergrowth, another Pillbox Defence position |
Underground Battle headquarters,
This building would have been used to co-ordinate the
defence of the airfield, had it come under attack. It consisted of a stairway from ground level, leading down into a
lobby. Straight on would have been a latrine. A left turn would take you into the office. Once in the office, straight
on through the door in front of you, there were situated the sleeping quarters. A door to the right in the office, led
to to Mess room.
A door on the right hand corner of the
mess room would had led into the emergency escape ladder. Up three steps, and you would have arrived in the look out
post. This section had a very thick re-inforced, oblong roof, but at ground level, a two inch wide observation slit
ran all the way around. It is now flooded up to almost ground level, and no attempt should be made
to enter it.
| The Underground Battle Headquarters type 11008/41 |
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| Entry stairs |
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| The emergency escape exit looking down from above |
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| The Observation post roof |
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| All that can be seen of the Battle HQ above ground, apart from the observation post roof |
Apart from the various Pillbox defences that are dotted around
the airfield, there remains an early version Spigot Mortar post. This would have been used in an anti tank role in defence
of the site.
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| Spigot mortar Position with the shelter at the rear |
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| Spigot Mortar Position with the ready use ammunition recess |
RAF Sawbridgeworth page 3
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