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Is this a pre-war bombing target?

22 Apr 2011 22:26 #1 by Peter Kirk
Is this a pre-war bombing target? was created by Peter Kirk
There was a brick built structure at Pawlett Hams (Somerset HER No. 18121) that was noted as being a bombing target.
A similar shape appears to be at Languard Point, Felixstowe, shown in the attached aerial view. I'm not convinced it is a target but wondered if someone could confirm what it is/was so I can cross it off my list of unknowns.

[IMG]/community/73488=4549-Landguard - mystery brick structure.jpg[/img]
Languard structure (centre of picture)

[IMG]/community/73488=4548-Pawlett range marker 18121.jpg[/img]
Pawlett structure ( from Somerset website - taken by Derrick Warren 24/8/1978 ). If this is bombing range related I wonder if this is what the cross in the circle of early bombing targets originally was, it was supposedly painted white?
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)

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23 Apr 2011 08:23 #2 by Dave Smith
Replied by Dave Smith on topic Is this a pre-war bombing target?
Is this perhaps something to do with the experiments with flying aircraft into balloon cables which took place at Pawlett?

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24 Apr 2011 07:54 #3 by John Anderson
Replied by John Anderson on topic Is this a pre-war bombing target?
In Michael Bowyer's book "2 Group R.A.F." he writes (page 198) in connection with use of the early B17's by the RAF in June 1941, that "at Ashton Range a pyramid target twenty yards square and thirty feet high was set up for practice with the Mk. 01 Sperry sight."

Seems to me he describes the Pawlett structure pretty well. What do you think?

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24 Apr 2011 09:55 #4 by PETERTHEEATER
Replied by PETERTHEEATER on topic Is this a pre-war bombing target?
Looking at the Languard structure in Bing Maps sat view it can be seen clearer and the shadow shows the stepped brick construction of the Pawlett example.

Measured in GE, the Languard example is around 15 feet at the base. In my opinion, the only reason for building a 'tall' bombing target would be to enable the ground based bomb plotters to 'see' the target although I admit it does throw a visible target at low sun angles. Perhaps it was in the centre of a cross and circle as PNK says.

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24 Apr 2011 13:29 #5 by Peter Kirk
Replied by Peter Kirk on topic Is this a pre-war bombing target?
Interestingly the Pawlett structure is labelled "Landmark" on some post war maps.

Given the port at Harwich is just round the point I wondered if it was a navigation beacon of some sort. Found this on Geograph www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1404506 which looks similar but of different proportions.
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)

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25 Apr 2011 06:24 #6 by PETERTHEEATER
Replied by PETERTHEEATER on topic Is this a pre-war bombing target?
Intriguing. The two structures are not too far from the Carmel Head WW2 Air to Ground Range but I accept that they are unrelated.

If these structures are navigation marks visible from the sea it does not explain the Pawlett Hams (?) item since that would have been to far inland to be visible from seawards.

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25 Apr 2011 09:07 #7 by John Anderson
Replied by John Anderson on topic Is this a pre-war bombing target?
Used for navigation on the River Parrett, perhaps?

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26 Apr 2011 06:36 #8 by PETERTHEEATER
Replied by PETERTHEEATER on topic Is this a pre-war bombing target?
I am but a simple sailor John! You either go 'up' a river or 'down' a river in the UK. Now, on the Mekong, Amazon or Missouri I might need some help:)

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26 Apr 2011 12:10 #9 by Peter Kirk
Replied by Peter Kirk on topic Is this a pre-war bombing target?
Now my initial exitement has worn off I am coming to the conclusion that Languard is a beacon of some sort and that Dave Smith is probably correct in the Balloon link for Pawlett Hams. It is the arrow at Pawlett that puts things in doubt but I wonder if it was to guide test aircraft to the balloon cable?
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)

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26 Apr 2011 18:56 #10 by John Anderson
Replied by John Anderson on topic Is this a pre-war bombing target?

I am but a simple sailor John! You either go 'up' a river or 'down' a river in the UK. Now, on the Mekong, Amazon or Missouri I might need some help:)


Ok Peter, but the Parrett is one of the largest rivers in Somerset!!

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