Bawdsey was handed over to the RAF in September 1937 and from that date was an operational front-line radar station, although Bawdsey Research Station – the scientists – was there until September 1939. The station did indeed play a role in plottingraids not just during the BoB, but throughout the war. Radar Days by Gwen Arnold (Woodfield Publishing) is a very good account from a WAAF Radar Operator at Bawdsey and is well worth reading (and I’m not just saying that because she lives about an hour’s drive from me 😉 ).

Does anyone know where I can buy cheap, affordable magazine binders (not boxes) in the UK – that hold 12 issues? The ones produced by Aeroplane Monthly (late again this month) and Flypast are too expensive.

For my After the Battle mags, I use binders out of WH Smith which, IIRC, cost about £4.99 and hold up to 14 issues. They should be pretty easy to get in most branches and use 14 thin metal rods to hold the mags into the binder.

Interesting to see. How long did it take to rebuild the towers after they were bombed in the Battle of Britain? Were they up and running really quickly again?

Did the Germans keep bombing the radar stations throughout the war of did they give up?

As Daz has mentioned, there wasn’t any serious damage to the towers, which presented little resistance to blast. IIRC one of the 240 foot receiving towers at Rye had a leg blown off, but the tower still stood perefectly fine and was repaired soon afterwards. Ventnor on the Isle of Wight was the only station that was out of action for more than a few hours, but a mobile unit provided emergency cover for the few weeks it took to get the station operational again.

Such damaage was largely due to the stations not being completed and equipment being housed in wooden huts. Once protected brick buildings were completed, the stations were much less vulnerable.

Attacks were carried out on stations throughout much of the war. I know one of the stations in the Shetland Islands was bombed several times during 1941, but without any real damage being done. Attacks are recorded taking place in 1942 and I think into 1943, but more as targets of opportunity than planned attacks. Stations were frequently strafed, being obvious military targets due to the towers which were highly visible.

The book was written 9 years before the film was made?

A quick check on abebooks.com reveal the first edition was published in 1969, so we can put away theories of time travel or clairvoyance in the writing of the book. 😉

Here’s another photo of the Stenigot tower, which gives a good idea of scale. Just compare with the house, or even with the car. 😮