Grove airfield Shooting Range Area (Pic Heavy)

[Wantage Will]

I took another trip to Grove airfield to capture what remains. As mention in my other post, built in 1943 and a very active airfield, used by the USAF. Little remains and what does, will not be there much longer as planning permission is certain. On the official plans i have of the site, this range is down as a "Machine gun range" i'm not clued up on that, but it is a fantastic place. Silence there is incredible. Enjoy.

Aircrat tie down,with range in background.

Walking upto the range.

Just about all in shot.

Time & vandels have been at work.

A look inside.

The back door.

To overgrown to shoot out now.

A look back at the path down.

A fitting has survived.

Inside the shooting gallery.

Looking out.

Deep undergrowth.

Store room at other end, intact minus roof.

The wall still standing strong.

Part of the flagpole remains.

Pole, close up.

Around the back.

Walking back.

Still standing proud.

Looking fragile.

Looking back from the end of runway 016, over thr peri track to the range.

What remains of the peri track & my way home.

Hope you enjoyed my little visit back to the airfield. It wont be there much longer. Housing is shortly
to cover the lot.
Cheers for looking.
All the best, Will.

 

[Wantage Will]

Sorry, just noticed my pushbike in 1st shot and a few spelling mistakes. I checked it o before posting to! Must be getting old. Sorry.
Will.

 

[gingrove]

Happy memories! this is where I shot my first pistol competition back in the seventies when it was used by the Harwell Pistol club and later with the Grove clay pigeon club. Thanks for posting

 

[Dirus_Strictus]

This range was drastically altered post WW11 when the pistol firing points were built, and the earthworks in front of the butts reduced. In the period that the USAAF was resident, these butts would have been used for synchronisation of aircraft machine gun impact point and general testing of these weapons.

 

[stevie65]

I lived nearby as a kid in the 80's. The banks in front of the butts were sand/earth without any plant growth and I remember digging for bullets. Naturally I believed they came from Spitfires but they were probably just gingrove's from the Harwell Pistol Club. My illusions shattered after all these years!

I thought it had all gone for housing years ago so thanks for the pictures. Shame what's left won't be for long

 

[smiler]

Darn, I thought the bicycle was part of the dereliction, nice report and pics, Thanks

 

[cptpies]

these butts would have been used for synchronisation of aircraft machine gun impact point and general testing of these weapons.

I'm not sure about that. This looks like a standard 25 yard small arms range. Shooting in butts (for gun sync and MG testing) were generally a smaller square building with a hardstanding in front so the aircraft could be wheeled up to them. I'll see if I can dig up some pics.

edit: Here we go

Shooting in butt at Shawbury.