Monument record MDO44878 - Possible Second World War anti aircraft battery, Blandford Camp, Tarrant Monkton

A group of structures on the east side of Blandford Camp are visible on 1940s aerial photographs. The features are considered likely to be part of a Second World War searchlight and/or heavy anti aircraft battery and were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

A group of structures on the east side of Blandford Camp are visible on 1940s aerial photographs [1, 2]. The features are indistinct but an aerial photograph dated 1944 suggests a square of small rectilinear structures with a random arrangement of larger rectilinear huts to the west and north of this [1]. Within the square on its south side is a sub-cirular structure, possibly a searchlight emplacement. South of the square are two possible gun pits and a rectilinear command post. The features may be part of a Second World War searchlight and/or heavy anti aircraft battery, although the function of the square of small rectilinear structures is unknown and may be of different origin - perhaps something to do with the the earlier temporary camp, although this is currently speculation. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

<1> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1975 RS 4008 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18888.

<1> Royal Air Force, 24-MAR-1944, RAF/NLA/80 RS 4083 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18617.

Record last edited

Nov 28 2022 4:26PM