Monument record MDO43814 - Second World War bombing range marker, Launceston Down, Tarrant Launceston

An alignment of three Second World War bombing range markers, created as ditched earthworks cut into the chalk pointing northeast, is visible as white chalk figures on 1947 aerial photographs, but has subsequently been ploughed away by 1953. The site extends for 90m roughly WSW / ENE, measuring a maximum of 6.5m wide. It comprises (from west to east) a short line, an arrow and a T-shape.

An alignment of three WWII bombing range markers is visible as white chalk figures on aerial photographs, but has subsequently been ploughed. The site is centred at ST 9493 1084 and extends for 90m roughly WSW / ENE, measuring a maximum of 6.5m wide. It comprises (from west to east) a line measuring 12m long that is centred at ST 9490 1083, an arrow measuring 5m long and centred at ST 9495 1085 and a T-shape centred at ST 9497 1085.

Several other chalk bombing range markers are dispersed over Launceston Common and are accompanied by a large number of circular bomb craters (see ST 91 SE 248 / UID: 1481331 and Associated Monuments). The site had been destroyed by ploughing on aerial photographs taken in 1953. <3>

A Second War bombing marker on the western edge of Launceston Down, Tarrant Launceston, is visible as ditched earthworks on 1940s aerial photographs <1, 2>. The features comprise a short 12m long linear, a 6m long arrow and an 11.5m long T shape cut into the chalk, all formed in a line in that order, pointing northeast.

The features are no longer visible on 2001 APGB imagery <4>. They were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

<1> Royal Air Force, 27-APR-1947, NMR RAF/CPE/UK/2038 3210, NMR RAF/CPE/UK/2038 3210-3211 27-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18516.

<2> Royal Air Force, 27-APR-1947, NMR RAF/CPE/UK/2038 3211, NMR RAF/CPE/UK/2038 3210-3211 27-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18051.

<3> Royal Air Force, 20-APR-1953, NMR RAF/58/1090 F21 0126-0127, NMR RAF/58/1090 F21 0126-0127 20-APR-1953 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18515.

<4> Pan Government Agreement, 2001, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery (Aerial Photograph). SDO18519.

<5> Bishop, Sharon, 2009, Tarrant Launceston 15 & Environs. Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis, Object Number: MD002384 (Unpublished document). SDO12459.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1480776 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 24 2023 11:47AM