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View Full Version : WEYBOURNE TRAINING CAMP. NORFOLK. 02/11.



simonix
19-02-2011, 08:46 PM
Went back to Weybourne camp last night with DJ OSKA, could not believe it when we got down to the gun wells as they have been almost completely cleaned out. Even all the Pillboxes have been cleaned and reserected with trenching and sand bags. The largest Pillbox even has its gun repositioned in it. The camp was established in 1935 as an Anti Aircraft training facility. The site is now part of the Muckleborough Collection Museum which is housed in the old nissan huts etc. During the war an Airfield was constructed which is still in use today. A little way up the road a dummy airfield was also set up to confuse the German aircrews as they crossed the coast line. The gun wells housed 3No 40mm Bofor AA guns, these were used in conjunction with the Queen Bee aircraft drones, it sounds like these were launched from the Stiffkey Whirlygig, during one training mission a whole crew of female gunners were killed in a tragic accident. In 1953 the US Army took over and replaced the 40mm guns with 3No 75mm Skysweeper guns these were used with RCATS radio controlled drones which were launched from Weybourne on a A7 launcher using rocket propulsion, these doubled up the fire power of the guns. The last guns were fired on site in 1960 although some records say 1958.

Here is an interesting link

ed-thelen.org/RCATS&WhirlygigV5.ppt

On with the photos, the first picture was of our first visit a couple of years ago before any clearing out had been done, this will give you some idea of how much work has been done.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/stiemer/Weybourne-Kelling022-1.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/stiemer/Weybourne2003.jpg
The same gun well now.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/stiemer/Weybourne2004.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/stiemer/Weybourne2007.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/stiemer/Weybourne2008.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/stiemer/Weybourne2010.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/stiemer/Weybourne2013.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/stiemer/Weybourne2021.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/stiemer/Weybourne2023.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/stiemer/Weybourne2024.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/stiemer/Weybourne2026.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/stiemer/Weybourne2031.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/stiemer/Weybourne2033.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/stiemer/Weybourne2039.jpg
This is the Gun rehoused in its pillbox.

This place is a must see if you are in the area.

Thanks :thumb

beam assisted
19-02-2011, 08:57 PM
Cracking shots, a bit of a shocker i bet seeing them cleaned out :)

simonix
19-02-2011, 09:01 PM
Thanks, it really was a shock, but a good one!

DJ OSKA
19-02-2011, 09:08 PM
Simon, to clear up a little confusion on the history:

The Queen Bees were launched from WEYBOURNE on the circular launching pads which were catapults, i believe, but may have been rocket assisted (I'm not sure on that).

The Whirlygig was used during the Cold War to launch the self-propelled (little high-speed piston engine which only ran at full-chat) RCATS Radio Controlled Target Drones from Stiffkey, which replaced the Queen Bees.

I hope to find out more if I attend the talk at Langham with Fred Butcher, who is the man to speak to on the Whirlygig.

Thanks for coming along last night.
It certainly was a shocker to see them completely cleared out!

Have you still got the Addams Family theme tune stuck in your head??
:D

KingElvis
20-02-2011, 07:13 PM
I love it, really good.

SaltGeorge
31-03-2011, 09:49 AM
There might be a gun in the pillbox, but it doesn't look comfortable there.. the closest I can find is an Argentine 105-mm Model 1968 Recoilless Gun.

DJ OSKA
31-03-2011, 10:54 AM
You're right, SG, its NOT the original type of gun in the emplacement...
Was probably wheeled into there from somewhere nearby from one of their re-enactment days...

Tankman
31-03-2011, 12:47 PM
That gun looks very much like a British Army, "MOBAT" Anti tank Gun of the 1970's:thumb

SaltGeorge
31-03-2011, 03:46 PM
Looks lightweight for a MOBAT or any of the WOMBAT derivatives. I'll put my bet on a captured Argentine piece from the Falklands conflict. The carriage and inclination wheels match a couple of photos online of Argentine Model 1968s.

MJS
31-03-2011, 06:39 PM
Good shizzle mate, looks good there

SaltGeorge
28-04-2011, 12:52 PM
Looking for something else, I found this.. Defence Area 41: Weybourne (http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue//adsdata/arch-455-1/dissemination/pdf/Text_Reports/DA41_TEXT_-_WEYBOURNE.pdf)

Tankman
28-04-2011, 01:44 PM
Looking for something else, I found this.. Defence Area 41: Weybourne (http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue//adsdata/arch-455-1/dissemination/pdf/Text_Reports/DA41_TEXT_-_WEYBOURNE.pdf)

Thanks for this link:thumb A very interesting article on the Weybourne Defences.
Hope to be up that way in a few weeks time, will have to check them out:smile