Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Trenches forming part of RAF Manston's runway lighting of Second World War date were visible as earthworks in US/7PH/GP/LOC286 V 5010 19-APR-1944.

Monument Types

• RUNWAY LIGHTING (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• TRENCH (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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An arrangement of long ditches is visible off the eastern end of what was RAF Manston on historic air photographs. These features appear to have been recently dug in 1944. These three parallel ditches, cross ditches and other linears may be part of the airfield’s Fog Investigation Dispersal Operation (FIDO) system in which fuel burners illuminated and cleared fog along the landing strip and its approach. These features were visible as soilmarks on 1950s photographs but it is not known if the fuel pipes were still in situ at that time. Part of the area through which these features ran is now buried by overburden. (1)

Trenches forming part of RAF Manston's runway lighting of Second World War date were visible as earthworks in US/7PH/GP/LOC286 V 5010 19-APR-1944. Contrary to authority (1), the FIDO system installed in the later years of the Second World War did not extend as far east as this trench network (see MKE125093).

The geometric arrangement of trenches was in the process of excavation and infilling in Spring 1944, in the creation of the east approach to RAF Manston's new crash runway. Two small, square features posiitoned in line with the centre of the runway, and standing at the ends of two trenches, were also visible in the photography. The present-day runway approach lights are oriented on one section of this trench network.

These features were recorded as levelled earthworks in Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 07-APR-2021 and were mapped as part of the Historic England Isle of Thanet project in 2024. (2-3)

<1> Alison Deegan, 2013, Air photo and lidar mapping and interpretation for land at Ozengell Grange, Ramsgate, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE31449.

<2> Historic England Archive, 1944, Historic England Archive USAF vertical aerial photographs, US/7PH/GP/LOC286 V 5010 19-APR-1944. (Archive). SKE57114.

<3> Next Perspectives, 2003-2021, Next Perspectives APGB orthophotography, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 07-APR-2021 (Archive). SKE57110.

Sources and further reading

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