I was watching the BBC's coverage of 'Remembrance Sunday: The Cenotaph' posted on the iPlayer. A lady, Jenny Cameron, WAAF (aged 95) interviewed (at 1h.37mins) mentioned working at several places including a radar facility in Beer, Devon. That place rang a bell with me as my late father in-law mentioned training at Beer. Even more interesting was his interest in radar and communications...so now I see a good reason for him mentioning Beer in Devon. Quick google/Wiki search came up with articles with details like this: "The radar station at Beer Head opened in 1941. It was one of around 100 stations that made up the Chain Home Low system. Chain Home Low was the codename for a coastal network of early warning radar stations that could detect aircraft at lower altitudes". Q: How secret was the work at Beer Head and what organisations today hold details of its WW2 operations? Thanks db
RAF Beer Head The radar station at Beer Head opened in 1941. It was one of around 100 stations that made up the Chain Home Low system. Chain Home Low was the codename for a coastal network of early warning radar stations that could detect aircraft at lower altitudes than the earlier Chain Home system. By 1942 Beer Head was also a Chain Home Extra Low station, this meant it had the equipment to detect enemy aircraft at even lower altitudes tracking aircraft fl ying at 50-200 feet above sea level at a distance of about 30 miles. This made it much more di cult for enemy aircraft to attack undetected. The main radar aerial at Beer Head was on a 6 metre high wooden gantry. This was next to a building called the Transmission and Receiver Block, which housed the radar equipment. It looked similar to the one in the photograph below. There was another radar dish on a 61 metre high tower 60 metres further inland. The radar station was closed in 1946 and the structures were taken down. Traces of concrete footings can still be seen http://www.eastdevonaonb.org.uk/uploads/documents/conserve/Culture and Heritage/East Devon AONB Interp 2.pdf Heritage Gateway - Results
