StP Douvres II “Distelfink” radar
RADAR · K.V.Gruppe River-Bella (Sword & Juno Beaches) · AOK 7 Normandy · France
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
Luftwaffe station 'Distelfink' (ii)
8./Luft.Nachr.Regt53
4 x Bf.58c Tobruk's.
1 x L480 Wasserman M IV FuMG402 (chimney) long-range aircraft reporting and height finding radar.
1 x L410A bunker & ringstand for 3.7cm Flak.
2 x L409A bunkers & ringstands for 3.7cm Flak.
1 x Transformer, two generators.
1 x Zisterne for water.
4 x Feldmässig.
3 x 2cm Flak 30.
30 Assault Unit - Report No.2
Sir
I have the honour to report that the Radar station between Douvres and Beny-Sur-Mer, which was the main objective of 30 Assault Unit in the British theatre, was captured at 17.00 on the 17th June 1944.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Sgd) Dunstan Curtis
Commander, R.N.V.R
Commanding Officer 30 Assault Unit R.N. Wing.
from HQ of 30 Assault Unit in Normandy.
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
A nice air photo.
As the war progressed the Germans were taking a terrific pounding from the RAF at night and then with the USAAF in the day time, they needed to see what and when the aircraft were approaching. Radar was the new thing and scientists were inventing all sorts of radars. This radar had a long bunker with a circular entry in the end for a tall tubular tower. A motor rotated the aerial. It would have used a lot of power and there were two generators housed on the perimeter of the defence.
AIR 40/1955 Photographic Intelligence for D-Day
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
The radar station was surrounded by a large barbed wire fence all around it and a minefield MF100.
German Defence map
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
An Allied high level photo of the area.
AIR 40/1667
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
Target X(ii)/39 - AIR 40/1667 Rhubarb - Appendix X(ii) Coastal Radar Stations
Append IX (ii) - A Wasserman set, early air photo. AIR 37/510 Attacks on Enemy Radar Installations. Being attacked by rocket firing Typhoons.
AIR 40/1667 - AIR 37/510
Target X(ii)/39 - AIR 40/1667 Rhubarb - Appendix X(ii) Coastal Radar Stations
Append IX (ii) - A Wasserman set, early air photo. AIR 37/510 Attacks on Enemy Radar Installations. Being attacked by rocket firing Typhoons.
AIR 40/1667 - AIR 37/510
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
AIR 40/1667 Rhubarb - Appendix X(ii) Coastal Radar Stations an allied plan of the area. The Allies running up to D-Day selected many radar stations on the Atlantikwall to be attacked by rocket firing RAF Typhoon Squadrons. The idea was to put out the Luftwaffe eyes. A plan of which radars to destroy and to leave as a deception plan running up to D-Day. This way they did not give away the secret of where the landings were going to take place. Douvres was a special target and needed taking out as its radars covered all the landing beaches and all the parachute landing zones.
AIR 40/1667
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
A German defence Artillery map showing where Douvres (i) & (ii) are and artillery targets If needed with numbers. Circles are defence positions, StP's & Wn's. I am sure many of these were used as the battle field progressed across this part of Normandy. Most of the fixed artillery was 7.5cm F. H.’s and as the battle continued into day two and three the German field army would have brought their heavier artillery into play. These would have been 10.5cm and above.
German Map
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
A very good air photo showing the three AA bunkers, the transformer on the top right and the L480 radar bunker. The flak bunkers were designed for 3.7cm Flak but here they used 2cm Flak 30 guns.
AIR 40/1667
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
The view from the modern road looking due north.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
Getting closer, the far side of the field was being ploughed so I could walk across here easily without damaging crops.
The closest is an L409A Flak bunker.
A large crew room, ammunition room, store room and gas lock with two entrances.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
The L409A and L410A are both open emplacements for 3.7cm Flak 18 type guns but here 2cm Flak 30 have been used.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
Two entrances to the bunker underneath.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
I am not sure what this is as it was very hard to see in. It may be a concrete trench to an external Feldmässig ammunition storage??
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
Looking up at where the gun would have sat.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
Looking into the gun room with ammunition ready spaces set into the walls and a small crew room.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
Looking into the gun space.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
The view towards another flak bunker and the L480 radar bunker.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
L410A bunker could be called a command bunker, two crew rooms, none commissioned officers room, ventilation, ammunition, close combat and two gas locks with entrance.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
One of the entrances, sorry about the shadow.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
The entrance into the gun space where it would be closed off with either concrete or wooden bulks of timber.
The concrete poles are part of a fence that I believe used to circled the site.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
Unable to cross the field so this is as close as I could get.
From L to R aerial pit, workshop, spare parts, stores & lavatories, gear & fuel.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
This is the L480 at StP235 Osteck Luftwaffe Station "Taussendfussler" east of Cherbourg.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
This is the L480 at I believe Vlissingen in Holland being destroyed, here the Wasserman was also blown up by the time the emplacement could be captured.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
Details
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
The gun space with ready ammunition niches (the long oblong slots) and the two crew small spaces where telephone connection to the HQ bunker to receive fire control orders.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
Another view with all the bunkers can be seen.
Main L409A (2), Right to Left L409A (1), L410A & L480.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
Camouflage net hooks.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
Looking into the gun space.
When the gun was in place large wooden boards would close off the entrance and the ammunition niches and small crew rooms.
On the right, when the gun space was closed off there is one entrances like chicanes to get inside. Its hard enough for me at my over weight size but a fully equipped German soldier with his tin hat on would have had as much trouble as me to get in in a hurry.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
Crew entrance chicane.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
There were several battles for the site, first air and then the Canadians attacked on D-Day but decided to skirt around it and leave the StP to later troops.
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
31 October 2016
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
The Assault: from ADM 199/1647
Report of
30 Assault Unit.
The northern site
(StP Douvres (ii) was captured by members of No.41 Commando.
They Found : -
(i) A box type WASSERMAN tower lying on its side (Damaged on D-Day). Radar control apparatus housed in an underground concrete shelter, but had been so badly damaged by fire to be unrecognisable.
((ii)) An H.T. transformer station
((ii)i) Three concrete bunkers with gun emplacements (the three flak bunkers).
Materials found: -
(i) The operational control room
consisting of a sunken cellar with a roof opening some 10'ft square, covered in a glass grid screen projecting into a room above.
((ii)) The display gear was found still in boxes and possibly never finished.
((ii)i)
Documents picked up from all over the floors.
(iv) A great deal of Radar equipment was either stripped or badly damaged by the Germans and buried. All parts unearthed and sent home.
(v) The control platform of the Wasserman tower was situated in the middle of the tower and electrically controlled from the underground Radar cabin. It was protected by armoured plating 3/8'' in. thick.
(vi) RAF technician drew a plan of the Wasserman feeder circuit.
Kew
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
Wasserman Radar.
Air 14/3266 Enemy RDF 17/03/1943
StP Douvres (ii), Distelfink
In the snow.
10 March 2013