Don_of_Croy
07-10-2010, 12:55
Hi everyone - happened across this forum via urbex (too much time on my hands waiting for the telephone to explode into life).
Generally interested in airfields/WWII/Cold War stuff - cannot explain why, perhaps thats why these forums are so useful?
Having lived in SE all my life I'm familiar with Biggin Hill (watching aircraft circling over our house during the air fairs in the 1970's), was in CCF/RAF at school (camps at Swanton Morley, Wyton and Wildenrath) and latterly failed OSU at Biggin! Also went on abortive gliding trips to West Malling and Manston. Always enjoyed poking around these places.
There is so much 'stuff' all around reminding us of past conflicts (going back to medieval castles etc), and because I now live near the Medway valley I'm surrounded by pillboxes. My morning commute takes me past Aspidistra (Ashdown Forest radio bunker/Regional Command Centre) and in Tun Wells we have the underground communications project in Broadwater Forest (apparently benign) as well as the less well documented Montgomery defence HQ.
When I was 16 I asked about Monty's HQ at the Tourist Info counter in Tun Wells Town Hall - the lady behind the counter knew all about it as her friend's house was part of it (in Broadwater Down), and their swimming pool was in a former bunker!
Anyway, nothing much to add to the raft of knowledge here already, but thankful somebody is keeping records.
Generally interested in airfields/WWII/Cold War stuff - cannot explain why, perhaps thats why these forums are so useful?
Having lived in SE all my life I'm familiar with Biggin Hill (watching aircraft circling over our house during the air fairs in the 1970's), was in CCF/RAF at school (camps at Swanton Morley, Wyton and Wildenrath) and latterly failed OSU at Biggin! Also went on abortive gliding trips to West Malling and Manston. Always enjoyed poking around these places.
There is so much 'stuff' all around reminding us of past conflicts (going back to medieval castles etc), and because I now live near the Medway valley I'm surrounded by pillboxes. My morning commute takes me past Aspidistra (Ashdown Forest radio bunker/Regional Command Centre) and in Tun Wells we have the underground communications project in Broadwater Forest (apparently benign) as well as the less well documented Montgomery defence HQ.
When I was 16 I asked about Monty's HQ at the Tourist Info counter in Tun Wells Town Hall - the lady behind the counter knew all about it as her friend's house was part of it (in Broadwater Down), and their swimming pool was in a former bunker!
Anyway, nothing much to add to the raft of knowledge here already, but thankful somebody is keeping records.