Lakenheath Range

**PNK** · 17-03-2012, 21:10

I thought we had a thread on Lakenheath bombing range, couldn't find one so created one. I will copy the relevant posts if I finfd them!

The picture below shows a strange symbol on Lakenheath Warren north of the bombing target by about 600yds (Jan 1944). I have no idea what it means and I am only assuming it is range related. Any ideas?

When it the photo was taken the range was still active as work on the VHB rebuild had not started.

**PETERTHEEATER** · 18-03-2012, 05:29

It might be visible (at poor resolution) in GE '1945' view but the road curve doesn't match your image.

I thought that the upper arrow pointed to magnetic north and the diagonal arrow to the target taking into account the magnetic deviation (shift) since the early '40s but, the use of a square perpendicular to the upper arrow forces the other arrow to be at 45 degrees. Or is it a rectangle?

**PNK** · 18-03-2012, 21:00

The photo needs to be tilted to the left a bit to get to true north. The GE view is too grainy to see anything. The target is just about visible but badly bleached out.

**P Bellamy** · 25-03-2012, 03:39

The square and the north-pointing arrow can be made out in the 2005, 2007 and 2008 GE coverage, no sign of the diagonal one though.

I wonder where the previous Lakenheath Range posts went...

EDIT: Here they are, in the RAF Lakenheath thread: LINK

**PETERTHEEATER** · 25-03-2012, 06:32

You're going to have to help me with that! I must be looking in the wrong place and I have got my glasses on.

**PNK** · 25-03-2012, 11:51

Well I'm blowed, my eyes are getting worse. I can see it now and both arrows are clearly visible in the layer labelled 2005. Extract below.

The range itself is clearly visible on the 1944 view and also in 1946 and 1947 although the features of the VHB rebuild are starting to encroach on the target area.
The GE extract below shows the main locations and my estimate of where the second QS was sited base on the location of a track from the target. I suspect the QS were both wooden and fairly low level and probably not easily spotted on the APs.

**PETERTHEEATER** · 26-03-2012, 06:02

I was looking in the correct place but just could't make it out (scale!) now I can; thanks.

**P Bellamy** · 26-03-2012, 13:37

Hmm, that's certainly the one.

What I'd spotted is the same shape (well just the square and upward arrow at least) but smaller and on the other side of the clump of trees.
It's just visible 20mm below the "a" in "Location" in the Unidentified Symbols marker in the image above.