Page 29 - issue19.04.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, April 19, 2019 P21

Feature

The hole truth

Secrets of 11 Gp’s Battle of Britain bunker revealed in new tours

CURATOR: Dr Rachael Abbiss

KEITH PARK: 11 Group’s wartime boss

Tracey Allen
RAF Uxbridge
INSTON CHURCHILL’S
famous words paying
Wtribute to ‘The Few’ were
first spoken when the wartime
Prime Minister came out of the
Battle of Britain Bunker at RAF
Uxbridge on August 16, 1940.
Churchill had been observing
the defence of the skies at the
bunker, where WAAF plotters
worked around the clock tracking PLOTTERS: Working in the
the size and direction of incoming Battle of Britain Ops Room
German raids.
The underground bunker of
No 11 Group’s operations room Never
– known to the RAF personnel “
in the field
serving there as ‘the hole’ – was
built in 1939, designed to withstand of human
bomb and gas attacks so that work
could continue uninterrupted. It conflict was
was fully operational 10 days before
war broke out and saw its first so much
action six days after the outbreak of
hostilities. owed by so
Now the public can visit the
original operations room in the many to so
bunker, which appears exactly as few
it did at the height of the Battle of ”
Britain on September 15, 1940, at Winston Churchill
11.30am. Battle of Britain Bunker
A new visitor centre tells the ON CALL: Telephonists on duty in the bunker PHOTO: AHB and above TRIBUTE: 11 Gp boss AVM Ian Duguid lays a wreath at the memorial RAF Uxbridge
story of the bunker from its top- August 16, 1940
secret construction to all the crucial
RAF Fighter Command operations development of the Dowding Royal Box was built in the bunker includes a section from a Luftwaffe was charged with during the
throughout World War II, including system and the work of the bunker. especially for the occasion. aircraft, a Luftwaffe NCO uniform Second World War.
the evacuation of Dunkirk, the Blitz Dr Rachael Abbiss, the bunker’s The visitor centre features a and a propaganda poster from “The hands are at 11 o’clock to
and D-Day. military history curator, said: “The Polish Air Force Heritage Trail – 1938-39. represent the time of the Armistice
Displays feature a 3D success of Britain’s air defence RAF Uxbridge was the HQ of 11(F) of the First World War and the
representation of the world’s first system and the work of the bunker Gp throughout WWII and during n a recent visit to the museum number of the Group. The Group
integrated air defence system, during WWII owes much to the the war always included at least one Oand bunker, 11 Group head motto is tutela cordis ‘defence of
named after Fighter Command’s skill and creativity of individuals Polish Air Force fighter squadron. AVM Ian Duguid laid a wreath at the heart’, this is where the Group
ACM Sir Hugh Dowding. He who served during WWI and the The medal ribbons of fighter pilot the Battle of Britain memorial. firmly stands today, reaching
brought together Britain’s fighter inter-war period. Sqn Ldr Franciszek Kornicki, voted He said: “Like the bunker across defence in supporting multi
aircraft, ground defences and “The air defence system ‘The People’s Spitfire Pilot’ are also utilised the intelligence that was domain operations.”
cutting-edge technology to create a Dowding put into operation in 1939 on display. gained from radar back in 1940,
single, coordinated defence system. represented decades of hard work, 11 Group WAAFs were often we will also use new technology ■ Go to: battleofbritainbunker.
The bunker at Uxbridge was at its innovation and experimentation.” extras in films produced at nearby to defend ourselves against new co.uk for admission details. Entry
centre. The system gave Britain a AVM Sir Keith Park took Denham Studios and the museum’s threats, across air, space and cyber.” to the visitor centre and bunker
crucial advantage over the Luftwaffe command of 11 Group in April collection includes a photograph He added: “The 11 Group badge is free for holders of the Defence
during the Battle of Britain. 1940. Although not based at signed by The First of The Few star depicts the clock tower of the Privilege Card or military ID and
Uxbridge, Park was a frequent Leslie Howard to WAAF Betty Palace of Westminster surrounded under-18s, £7 for adults and £5 for
he development of modern visitor to the bunker. Members Kingston. by an astral crown. The tower over-65s. You must book to visit
Tair systems can be traced of the Royal Family, including There is also an area featuring indicates London, the heart of the the bunker and it is unsuitable for
to the lessons learnt during the King, George VI, also visited and a Luftwaffe memorabilia that Empire, whose safety the Group those with mobility problems.