Uxbridge

[bigherb]

RAF Uxbridge Plotting Room

RAF Uxbridge is still very active although due to close in two years but the WW2 bunker has been Grade 1 listed and should be safe. Photography on our trip was strictly controlled outside the bunker and the tour only lasted just over an hour, which was a bit rushed to for photography inside the bunker. The bunker was built in 7 months only being completed 10 days before hostilities broke out and was in use until 1958. The bunker was restored in the 1970’s to how it was on September the 14th 1940. Thats all I can remember from the guide I forgot to pick up the information on the way out.

Memorial, in the background can be seen one of the ventilation stacks




Main bunker entrance


Looking up the Steps down to bunker from the halfway landing, all the service cables and pipes run down the main stairwell.


Bunker Plan


Plotting Room Table


Close up of the clock the coloured segments represent 15 minute intervals, the colour was used on the plots on the table from the 15 minute interval it came in, so the controller could see the the direction the plots where where taking in fifteen minute intervals.


The plot at 11.30 am on September the 14th


Controller’s position overlooking the plotting table this also where Churchill sat when he visited.

[norwichpaul]

The colour segments on the clock are 5 minutes!

[bigherb]

Yes your right, can't rember why she mentioned fifteen minutes in there now.

[P Bellamy]

The plot markers placed in the first 5 minutes will have red tags, the next 5 yellow and the next 5 blue.
Hence the 15 minutes before the red tags would be used again for fresh plots.

An archived page explaining the system can be found HERE.

All the best,
PB

[Southend Spitfire]

read here:

http://www.hillingdontimes.co.uk/new...with_Uxbridge/

[David Thompson]

The closure features on the front page of the latest edition of the RAF News , No 1246 , 9 April , 70p . It states that the 11 Group Ops Room will be taken over by English Heritage , a plaque was unveiled in memory of Douglas Bader who was hospitalised here after his double leg amputation and that the land not unsurprisingley has been sold for housing .

[blueredblue]

Nothing happening yet, just moved into married quarters on site.

[canberra]

There was talk of the US Navy taking over the site, or should I say the CIA.

Incidentally a few years ago there were major complaints about the condition of the army barracks at Hounslow, Im suprised the army didnt take over Uxbridge.

[blueredblue]

No sign of any US on sight. All barrack accommodation is full however! 2 Coy's of 2RRF are accommodated here as there is not enough space at Cavalry Bks in Hounslow.

[canberra]

Just because theres no sight of the CIA sorry US Navy that doesnt mean their not there! You havent seen a very attractive red headed lady have you, or a cigarette smoking man?