RAF Davidstow Moor M.G. Range.

RAF · Cornwall · England · United Kingdom

RAF Davidstow Moor M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

138 - M.G. Range - 147/41.
All Airmen what ever the rank, had to be able to shoot a gun. From a hand gun to a heavy machine gun. The first reason that goes back to the days of the RFC. All Airmen needed to defend themselves in the field. Also they need to defend their airfield. So a day on the ranges was a must. These ranges were very alike through out the modern dispersed expansion Airfields. The range was usually placed in a far of part of the airfield, as here. At the back of is a large brick wall, then a sand bed built up to accept bullets. Sometimes a trench with sets of target frames that can be pulled down and the pushed back up. Then a grass strip of 'no mans land'. And finally the firing Butts. A long sort of open (onto the range) building, with two sheds either end. One possibly for the range staff and targets, the other to store the empty cartridges.

138 - M.G. Range - 147/41.
138 - M.G. Range - 147/41.
Cadets shooting.
Cadets shooting.
25yd range
25yd range

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
138 - M.G. Range - 147/41. As can be seen they are situated right out of the way.

Record Site Plan 4947/44

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
138 - M.G. Range - 147/41. 137 - M&E Plinth. I am going to make a bit of a bold statement. I think the range is 180° out, I think they face towards the runways and not away from them.

Record Site Plan 4947/44

.
.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
138 - M.G. Range - 147/41. The range rear wall standing out by the trees which were planted post war.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

138 - M.G. Range - 147/41.
The rear wall built up on a large mound of earth.

22 January 2005

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
138 - M.G. Range - 147/41. Looking from where the shooting in butts would have stood and the grass mound would be full of yellow sand.

22 January 2005

Firing butts.
Firing butts.
No.4 Mk2 Lee Enfield 303'
No.4 Mk2 Lee Enfield 303'

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
138 - M.G. Range - 147/41.

08 July 2008

Sand against the wall.
Sand against the wall.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
138 - M.G. Range - 147/41. The makeup of the brick wall.

22 January 2005

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
138 - M.G. Range - 147/41. Looking down towards the shooting end.

22 January 2005

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
Machine gun testing.
Machine gun testing.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
138 - M.G. Range - 147/41. The amount of work put into building this range. Move a heap of earth and then cement together thousands of bricks.

22 January 2005

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
138 - M.G. Range - 147/41. This I am not too sure of, but I feel it may have been the base of the shooting Butts. This is maybe one end where a hut to hold the range staff in and you can also see a concrete stove base just propped up. This is where an iron stove would have sat and heated the hands of the range staff when no firing is taking place.

22 January 2005

The stove on its concrete plinth.
The stove on its concrete plinth.
Now very derelict, the shooting butt end with the two sheds either end to hold the range staff.
Now very derelict, the shooting butt end with the two sheds either end to hold the range staff.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
138 - M.G. Range - 147/41. "Have you read range rules?". This was painted on the side wall at RAF Enstone.

RAF Enstone

Another painted sign said something about "Empty casings".
Another painted sign said something about "Empty casings".
RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
137 - M&E Plinth. To provide power to this remote spot on the airfield.

22 January 2005

Wiring plan.
Wiring plan.
Plan of this M&E plinth.
Plan of this M&E plinth.
RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
137 - M&E Plinth.
The cable.
The cable.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
137 - M&E Plinth. The entrance staggered.

22 January 2005

Steel angle iron gate with steel mesh covering and a sliding bolt closure.
Steel angle iron gate with steel mesh covering and a sliding bolt closure.
Plan of this M&E plinth.
Plan of this M&E plinth.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.
137 - M&E Plinth. Inside.

22 January 2005

3.3Kkv transformer in a plinth.
3.3Kkv transformer in a plinth.
Nearly all M&E plinths had broken glass set into the top cement as a security measure. You can tell by the proliferation of brown glass, that a lot of beer needed to be drunk for the glass content.
Nearly all M&E plinths had broken glass set into the top cement as a security measure. You can tell by the proliferation of brown glass, that a lot of beer needed to be drunk for the glass content.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

RAF Davidstow Moor, M.G. Range.

22 January 2005