I always like it when disappointment turns to enjoyment. So a day at RNAS Culdrose was on the cards until I got there and they were digging up the runway. Disappointed to say the least so what to do ? A drive out to the Lizard past Goonhilly. But what is that in the field ? Military building remains so an explore is on the cards. The notice board tells me this is the site of RAF Dry Tree. Never heard of it so time to take a look. After three hours wandering about this turned into a rather good day. Quite a lot left to be seen plus a bunker that is not listed on the info board for the site.
RAF Dry Tree was a Chain Home Radar Station constructed in 1940 to detect aircraft approaching South Cornwall and the Western Approaches. The site had four 110m transmitter masts and two 73m wooden receiver towers.
Many attacks came at night and these were detected by Dry Tree and Trelanvean who in turn sent intercepting Beaufighters and Mosquito’s from nearby RAF Predannack. Predannack is located near and is visible from the site on the horizon.
There were about 120 personnel located at the site with half of them being women of the WAAF. It was not until August 1945 that the Air Ministry finally admitted the existence of the up until then secret radar stations.
If you go to this site beware the adders that are in the undergrowth as they are abundant along with the odd scurrying lizard. The shots were taken in April 2011.
Receiver Standby Facility - remains
Evidence of a previous existance
Entrance to one of the remaining air raid shelters
Internal air raid shelter view
Identification Friend Or Foe (IFF) Building - IFF was used to determine if an aircraft was friendly or enemy. IFF equipment
would interogate an aircraft and if it was carrying a transponder the aircraft would identify itself as friendly. Enemy aircraft would
not carry the required transponder to respond and therefore would be classed as hostile. As the war progressed so did the art
of nightfighting and interception on both sides. Darkness was no longer somewhere to hide and many aircraft were intercepted and shot
down over the UK and Europe due the combined efforts of ground control and nightfighters. One of the of the more sinister events was the onset
of night intruders which would wait at returning bomber airfields and shot down aircraft as they came into land. Both the allies and the axis powers used
these tactics succesfully as the war went on. It must have been very demoralising for crews to be within sight of their home airfield only to be shot down
at the missions end.
One of the five remaining Receiver Tower bases
This brick structure was at the centre of the Receiver Tower
Within the brickwork is located this base
Switchgear remains
Unidentified building
View from the Receiver Room roof - IFF building in the foreground
Internal view of the Receiver Room
Located in a clump of trees is a well hidden bunker. There is no detail as to what the buildings purpose was.
When I approached the building I heard voices from inside. With a little trepidation I went inside and someone said hello "are you the batman". I said no just taking photo's.
Transpired the people in the bunker were making a horror film. Very good location I would say.
The remains of air conditioning plant - the large box like structure is an air filteration unit
Air conditioning control cubicle
Fan units former location
The makers name
Damper control detail
Fan motor housing at ductwork inlet - outlet ?
Ductwork detail
Water now floods the bunkers lower working areas
Electrical conduit remains
Switchgear remains
Derelict racking
Air conditioning outlet - I assume the site would work under negative pressure to protect in the event of gas attack
General internal view
Air conditioning ductwork dog leg
Flat fields surround the site. These mounds were constructed to deter enemy gliders from landing in the
event of invasion
One more unidentified building
There are other buildings located within the site but are in deep foliage. With the risk of adders I did not venture in !!
Thanks for looking.
RAF Dry Tree was a Chain Home Radar Station constructed in 1940 to detect aircraft approaching South Cornwall and the Western Approaches. The site had four 110m transmitter masts and two 73m wooden receiver towers.
Many attacks came at night and these were detected by Dry Tree and Trelanvean who in turn sent intercepting Beaufighters and Mosquito’s from nearby RAF Predannack. Predannack is located near and is visible from the site on the horizon.
There were about 120 personnel located at the site with half of them being women of the WAAF. It was not until August 1945 that the Air Ministry finally admitted the existence of the up until then secret radar stations.
If you go to this site beware the adders that are in the undergrowth as they are abundant along with the odd scurrying lizard. The shots were taken in April 2011.
Receiver Standby Facility - remains
Evidence of a previous existance
Entrance to one of the remaining air raid shelters
Internal air raid shelter view
Identification Friend Or Foe (IFF) Building - IFF was used to determine if an aircraft was friendly or enemy. IFF equipment
would interogate an aircraft and if it was carrying a transponder the aircraft would identify itself as friendly. Enemy aircraft would
not carry the required transponder to respond and therefore would be classed as hostile. As the war progressed so did the art
of nightfighting and interception on both sides. Darkness was no longer somewhere to hide and many aircraft were intercepted and shot
down over the UK and Europe due the combined efforts of ground control and nightfighters. One of the of the more sinister events was the onset
of night intruders which would wait at returning bomber airfields and shot down aircraft as they came into land. Both the allies and the axis powers used
these tactics succesfully as the war went on. It must have been very demoralising for crews to be within sight of their home airfield only to be shot down
at the missions end.
One of the five remaining Receiver Tower bases
This brick structure was at the centre of the Receiver Tower
Within the brickwork is located this base
Switchgear remains
Unidentified building
View from the Receiver Room roof - IFF building in the foreground
Internal view of the Receiver Room
Located in a clump of trees is a well hidden bunker. There is no detail as to what the buildings purpose was.
When I approached the building I heard voices from inside. With a little trepidation I went inside and someone said hello "are you the batman". I said no just taking photo's.
Transpired the people in the bunker were making a horror film. Very good location I would say.
The remains of air conditioning plant - the large box like structure is an air filteration unit
Air conditioning control cubicle
Fan units former location
The makers name
Damper control detail
Fan motor housing at ductwork inlet - outlet ?
Ductwork detail
Water now floods the bunkers lower working areas
Electrical conduit remains
Switchgear remains
Derelict racking
Air conditioning outlet - I assume the site would work under negative pressure to protect in the event of gas attack
General internal view
Air conditioning ductwork dog leg
Flat fields surround the site. These mounds were constructed to deter enemy gliders from landing in the
event of invasion
One more unidentified building
There are other buildings located within the site but are in deep foliage. With the risk of adders I did not venture in !!
Thanks for looking.
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Might have been a bit scary though !!
