Monument record MDO45350 - Second World War bombing range observation tower, Launceston Common, Tarrant Launceston

A probable Second World War bombing range observation tower is visible as a structure on aerial photographs taken in 1943 and 1947 but was removed by 1953. The site comprises a tall tower which has a base measuring circa 5.5m square. Its shadow extends for over 70m suggesting that it has considerable height. The tower is located at the eastern edge of Launceston Common and provided a vantage point from which observers could provide immediate feedback to the pilots and bomb aimers using the bombing range (MDO45344). A second tower is located 1165m to its south (see MDO45339).

A probable Second World War bombing range observation tower is visible as a structure on aerial photographs taken in 1943 and 1947 but was removed by 1953. The site is centred at ST 9628 1122 and comprises a tall tower which has a base measuring circa 5.5m square. Its shadow extends for over 70m suggesting that it has considerable height. The tower is located at the eastern edge of Launceston Common and provided a vantage point from which observers could provide immediate feedback to the pilots and bomb aimers using the bombing range (ST 91 SE 248 / UID: 1481331). A second tower is located 1165m to its south (see ST 91 SE 247 / UID: 1480804). <1-3>

<1> Royal Air Force, 13-JAN-1943, NMR RAF/HLA/651 1136-1137 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19184.

<2> Royal Air Force, 27-APR-1947, NMR RAF/CPE/UK/2038 3208-3209 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19288.

<3> Royal Air Force, 20-APR-1953, NMR RAF/58/1090 F21 0136-0137 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19234.

<4> Bishop, Sharon, 2009, Tarrant Launceston 15 & Environs. Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis, Object Number: MD002384 (Unpublished document). SDO12459.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1480803 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 26 2023 1:44PM