I went on an explore of a scrapyard in Newton Poppleford earlier today and got talking to the owner.
When he was young his family lived on a prominent hill overlooking the town, known as the common. During WW2 a decoy airfield was built there, including a runway with lights, and all the usual airfield buildings. He told me that it was bombed a couple of times, spraying their house with shrapnel and that the two pits in the ground caused by the bombs are now ponds.
Apparently most of the buildings are still there but is now owned by the RSBP and the buildings hold colonies of bats, which can't be disturbed. How cool is that? Although fenced off, it is possible to see the remains.
Another thing he told me was that on the way out of Newton Pop, towards Exeter, there is a very steep wooded hill where US troops had equipment stores and stations during the war. Unfortunately it was all filled in afterwards. Everything's still there underground but nothing's accessible.
Interestingly, a bit further on at Woodbury Common, the Royal Marine Commandos conduct their excercises (seen them sometimes on the way through).
Cheers
When he was young his family lived on a prominent hill overlooking the town, known as the common. During WW2 a decoy airfield was built there, including a runway with lights, and all the usual airfield buildings. He told me that it was bombed a couple of times, spraying their house with shrapnel and that the two pits in the ground caused by the bombs are now ponds.
Apparently most of the buildings are still there but is now owned by the RSBP and the buildings hold colonies of bats, which can't be disturbed. How cool is that? Although fenced off, it is possible to see the remains.
Another thing he told me was that on the way out of Newton Pop, towards Exeter, there is a very steep wooded hill where US troops had equipment stores and stations during the war. Unfortunately it was all filled in afterwards. Everything's still there underground but nothing's accessible.
Interestingly, a bit further on at Woodbury Common, the Royal Marine Commandos conduct their excercises (seen them sometimes on the way through).
Cheers