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Braid Fell Bombing Range
Braid Fell bombing range was a World War II bombing range established to the west of Braid Fell in Dumfries and Galloway, to the east of Cairnryan on the shores of Loch Ryan. The remains of the range still lie to the west of the single track road running between Innermessan and Penwhirn.
The northern end of the range was provided with full size dummy factory, which had to be rebuilt between exercises. No evidence of this structure remains, but the site it surrounded by numerous bomb craters of various sizes. A short distance to the west of this target two concentric gravel circles have been recorded in an area of peat, but have been lost beneath the surface.
Approximately half a mile (1 km) south of the dummy factory site a small concrete hut remains beside the road, near a large concrete arrow set into the ground to the west, and pointing towards the dummy factory.
The southern end of the range was equipped with a massive reinforced concrete target wall, close to another large concrete arrow set into the ground beside the road, and pointing towards the wall.
Braid Fell bomb disposal team
The RAF is reported to be involved in dealing with EODs (explosive ordnance device) which are still found in the area, which is also said to have been used as a munitions dump at some time in the past, with semi-permanent accommodation for the personnel dealing with the EODs having been installed adjacent to the old target wall.
In October 2010, it was announced that MoD plans to removed the disposal team from Braid Fell had been put on hold, pending review, after the local MP raised the issue of safety, and said that MoD figures for the preceding year had shown the discovery of 110 unexploded weapons, and that over 800 targets had been removed. showed that 110 unexploded weapons had been found on the site in the past year and more than 800 targets removed. However, and Mod spokesman said that the risk of anyone coming into contact with munitions on the site was now as low as reasonably practical.⚠ [^BBC News - Braid Fell bomb disposal team withdrawal reprieved Retrieved April 01, 2011.^]
In March 2011, notice was given that the disposal team was being withdrawn, and replaced by an annual survey, with a team ready to deal with any finds. The final reason given for the removal of the four-man team is redeployment to Afghanistan, where the MoD said their skills were in 'high demand to protect troops from explosive devices', adding that, 'There are still two military bomb disposal teams in Scotland who work 24/7 to deal with any threats across the country'.⚠ [^BBC News - Braid Fell bomb disposal team withdrawn Retrieved April 01, 2011.^]
Dummy target factory and craters
A bombing target, in the form of an area created to look like a factory, is reported to have been constructed on the western side of a minor road running through Braid Fell. The factory building has been described as having a flat roof, and requiring to be rebuilt after each exercise. Numerous squadrons would have used the range, but RCAHMS records including a note stating that 633 Squadron used this range, although no reference is given to support the claim. It may be worth noting that 633 Squadron is the name of a 1964 film which depicts the exploits of a fictional World War II British fighter-bomber squadron, and which was filmed in the Highlands, where the scenery matched the plot of the film.
All evidence of the target factory has been removed, with area reported to be fenced off, however much of the surrounding area can now be seen to be heavily marked by numerous bomb craters which have survived on the undeveloped land, and these range up to 20 metres in diameter, with at least 40 of significant size being easily seem, and many still deep enough to be water filled.
The bombing target is reported to visible on RAF aerial photographs taken in 1941, which show the dummy factory under construction and partially roofed.
The bombing target is later reported to be visible on RAF aerial photographs taken 1945, at which time the surrounding area is noted to be heavily marked with bomb craters.
Buried concentric gravel circles
Assumed to be connected with the bombing range, two concentric circles made up of granite chips and with an overall diameter of 34 metres are now lost to sight and reported to lie buried beneath a layer of peat.
The location given lies approximately 400 metres west of the dummy factory, and has been subject to peat cutting in later years, since the buried gravel circles were reported in 1986.
Building and marker arrow 1
A small brick and concrete building (Range building 1) with a pitched roof, supported on the sloping hillside by concrete pillars, lies on the western side of a minor road running through Braid Fell. Described in modern reports as an animal shelter, the building style suggests it is of military origin, and would therefore have been connected to the adjacent bombing range. Reports indicate two small aluminium storage huts on the northwest face of Broad Fell, with another near the roadside.
Lying approximately 30 metres northwest of the building, a large concrete arrow (marker arrow 1) is set into the ground, aligned parallel to the road and pointing approximately from southwest to northeast.
The building and arrow are reported to have been visible on aerial photographs taken by the RAF in 1945, together with another small roofed structure on the eastern side of the road.
Target wall and marker arrow 2
A large steel reinforced concrete bombing target wall lies on the western side of a minor road running through Braid Fell.
The wall contains many holes, revealing the concrete reinforcement, with at least four being described as large, together with evidence of splinter damage, and past repairs. There is no concentration of bomb craters around this target wall, suggesting it was used as a target for aircraft guns and cannons.
On the south side of the wall are more recent buildings belonging to an RAF EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) team involved in clearing World War II ordnance from the site. An earlier report from 1997 indicated that this work had been ongoing for some years was expected to continue until at least 2008. The range is also reported to have been used by the Bombing Trials Unit based at nearby RAF West Freugh, a modern day weapons and bombing range.
A modern barn occupies the ground to the south of the wall and the RAF buildings, and the western corner of the wall has also been used to mount what appears to be a vertical VHF antenna.
Approximately 50 metres south of the wall, and adjacent to the western edge of the road, a large concrete arrow (marker arrow 2) is set into the ground, pointing just west of north and towards the target wall.
The wall and arrow are reported to have been visible on aerial photographs taken by the RAF in 1945.
The wall is said to have been built during World War II as practice target for Operation Jericho, the raid on the Amiens Prison operated by the Gestapo in Copenhagen, when a flight of Mosquitoes blew out the walls and allowed hundred of prisoners to escape. There is no reference for this claim.
The raid on Amiens Prison is probably the single most famous raid undertaken by the Mosquito. The plan was to carry out a precision bombing raid limited only to certain buildings within the complex in order to provide an escape opportunity for the hundreds of prisoners being held there, including members of the French Resistance awaiting execution, and Allied personnel known to hold sensitive information. A message sneaked out of the prison revealed that the prisoners would rather risk death in the raid, than be tortured and executed by the Gestapo. The raid took place on February 18, 1944. 18 Mosquitos took part (four were lost, plus two Typhoon escorts), swooping down at well in excess of 300 miles an hour to a height of about 60 feet from the ground in order to precisely blow holes in the prison walls.
References
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External links
Related Canmore/RCAHMS and ScotlandsPlaces (SP) entries:-
Aerial views
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- Nearby geocaches
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- Fly to in Google Earth
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Map
⚠ (:gma-point lat=54.9596089 lon=-4.9551505 link='Range building 1' :)
⚠ (:gma-point lat=54.9597291 lon=-4.9554455 link='Marker arrow 1' :)
⚠ (:gma-point lat=54.9497979 lon=-4.9643344 link='Target wall west end' :)
⚠ (:gma-point lat=54.9497117 lon=-4.9637282 link='Target wall east end' :)
.⚠ (:gma-point lat=54.9490924 lon=-4.9636477 link='Marker arrow 2' :)
⚠ (:gma-point
⚠ (:llVgm NX11356760 :)
link='Target factory and craters' :)⚠ (:gma-point
⚠ (:llVgm NX10966777 :)
link='Buried concentric gravel circles' :)
⚠ (:gma-map view=hybrid :)
⚠ [[!World War II]]
⚠ [[!Training Area]]
⚠ [[!Bombing Range]]
⚠ (:WPCategoriesList:)
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