Post by larryc1 on Jul 3, 2017 17:53:37 GMT
Two years ago I created a posting on the Ashley Walk Range; subsequently I have discovered more information on the subject - here it is. (I have also corrected some information from the first posting.)
In December 1939 the British government requisitioned this area of the New Forest as a bombing and gunnery range. It consisted of 1618 hectares (4000 acres) and was in use by 1940. The range tested every form of air to ground ordnance with the exception of incendiary bombs, for fear of forest fires. This ordnance ranged frpm small anti-personnel devices to the 10 tonne 'Grand Slam', the largest bomb to be dropped on England.
Targets included analogues of ships, aircraft pens, roads, bunkers and railroads.
At the end of the war the site was cleared of ordnance detritus, the Grand Slam crater was filled in and the so-called sub pen was buried. (This is now the subject of archaeologic investigation).
The range is now a hiker's paradise again.
Note - some of the features are best viewed in earlier time periods via the time slider.
www.newforestheritage.org/photo.php?image=2731.jpg
www.airshowspresent.com/ashley-walk-bombing-range.html
www.newforestheritage.org/ashley-walk-bombing-range-1940-46-overview/
Here is an astounding video of Mosquitos dropping 'Highball' bombs on the wall target at Ashley. Note the proximity of the observers!! This is a shot of what was probably number one wall target, as Amberwoof Cottage is visible in the background.
Another video of Highball bombs including use against shipping.
Ashley Walk Bombing Range New Forest..kmz (5.91 KB)
In December 1939 the British government requisitioned this area of the New Forest as a bombing and gunnery range. It consisted of 1618 hectares (4000 acres) and was in use by 1940. The range tested every form of air to ground ordnance with the exception of incendiary bombs, for fear of forest fires. This ordnance ranged frpm small anti-personnel devices to the 10 tonne 'Grand Slam', the largest bomb to be dropped on England.
Targets included analogues of ships, aircraft pens, roads, bunkers and railroads.
At the end of the war the site was cleared of ordnance detritus, the Grand Slam crater was filled in and the so-called sub pen was buried. (This is now the subject of archaeologic investigation).
The range is now a hiker's paradise again.
Note - some of the features are best viewed in earlier time periods via the time slider.
www.newforestheritage.org/photo.php?image=2731.jpg
www.airshowspresent.com/ashley-walk-bombing-range.html
www.newforestheritage.org/ashley-walk-bombing-range-1940-46-overview/
Here is an astounding video of Mosquitos dropping 'Highball' bombs on the wall target at Ashley. Note the proximity of the observers!! This is a shot of what was probably number one wall target, as Amberwoof Cottage is visible in the background.
Another video of Highball bombs including use against shipping.
Ashley Walk Bombing Range New Forest..kmz (5.91 KB)