Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A Second World War anti-aircraft (Diver) battery previously noted from documentary sources is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as the pale cropmarks of the platforms on which the guns were placed. These features have been mapped from aerial photographs as part of the South East RCZAS NMP project.

Monument Types

• BOMB CRATER (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• DIVER BATTERY (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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Site of Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) battery at High Knock, deployed here on 30th July 1944. It was armed with four mobile 90mm guns, and was manned by 125 Battalion of the USAAF. This formed part of the Littlestone Section of American Anti Aircraft Mobile Battalion Heavy Anti Aircraft Artillery (1).

A Second World War anti-aircraft (Diver) battery previously noted from documentary sources is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as the pale cropmarks of the platforms on which the guns were placed. The site of the anti-aircraft battery is centred at TR 0941 2896, and extends across an area measuring approximately 110m south-west to north-east and a maximum of 40m north-west to south-east. The cropmarks where the guns of the battery were placed form a double-line of irregularly-shaped maculae. A large bomb crater of approximately 13m in diameter is visible at the southern end of the battery.

The cropmarks of a second possible battery site are visible within the same field, approximately 54m to the north-west. This also comprises of a line of irregularly-shaped maculae signifying the former positions of anti-aircraft guns. This possible battery site is centred at TR 1945 2902, and extends across an area measuring 88m SSW to NNE and up to 31m WNW to ESE. It seems unusual for two such sizeable anti-aircraft batteries to be placed so close together; so it is possible that one superceded the other.

By the time of vertical aerial photographs of 2007; no trace of the battery sites is visible (2-3).

<1> Dobinson, C., Operation Diver : England's Defence Against the Flying Bomb, June 1944-March 1945, pp 197 (Monograph). SWX23707.

<2> RAF, 1946, NMR RAF/106G/UK/1439 4025-6 30-APR-1946 (Photograph). SWX23812.

<3> Vertical aerial photograph reference number (Unspecified Type). SWX23737.

Sources and further reading