Report - R3 GCI ROTOR Radar Station - RAF Bawdsey - December 2013

[Styru]

RAF Bawdsey has been associated with the research, development, and provision of direction finding technology and was the location for the UK' first operational radar station.

In 1950, the station was chosen to participate in the ROTOR programme which should have been operational by January 1952. Work on the R3 two level underground control centre at the northern end of the site began late in 1950

(More about Bawdsey R3 ROTOR)

So, two levels of underground bunkery goodness, as Subbrit put it:

The bunker had 10-foot thick ferro-concrete walls, complete with its own borehole, generators and filtered air conditioning. They were supposed to give protection against a near miss by a 20 kT nuclear weapon

Visited with 'The Queen' and her carbide lamp (spot the lovely orange glow in a few of the shots)

So, on with some pics:

Lovely contrast between Cree LED and carbide lighting...

Would love to crack the code on that one - but I guess any record of it is long lost....

Room 28, it's glow in the dark sign biding it's time, waiting for the loving kiss of a P7

And into the switchboard:

Minerva fire detection panel..

Carbide lit telephone switchgear room...

A most excellent way to while away a few hours.

Thanks for looking​