Ashley Walk's Observation Shelter (Site of Bouncing Bomb Tests)

➜ SEE PHOTOS: trexplorer.co....
During the Second World War, 5,000 acres of land at Ashley Walk was fenced off, turning this location in the New Forest into the perfect area for a bombing range. Tests such as the bouncing bomb, Tallboy, and the Grand Slam were all conducted here.
Some of these tests would have been viewed from the Ashley Walk bombing range observation shelter that I visit in this video.
➜ Visit the location
goo.gl/maps/Um...
** Join the discussion **
Please visit the New Forest and Hampshire WW2 Heritage Facebook group where members talk about local wartime history and other sites of interest:
➜ / 400948317956198
** Credits and Thanks **
- The Dambusters March music written by Eric Coates and performed by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force.
- Grand Slam bomb photo - Crown Copyright
- Bouncing bomb test footage from IWM and NFNPA • WWII Bouncing Bomb Tes...
- New Forest National Park Authority for the information board shown in the video
- The Ashley Walk bombing map from the New Forest Research and Publication Trust.
#ww2 #newforest #AshleyWalk

[@ericolsen3059]

Thanks Nick. Great to keep the history alive. The observers showed a great deal of faith in the bomb aimers.

[@E_UNIT]

Cool video pal 👍

[@TrexplorerUK]

Thanks chap, you might like this one from last week actually - up your street I think..

[@TrexplorerUK]

th-cam.com/video/Nd8PmHe-QTY/w-d-xo.html

[@newforestexplorer]

Finally got out there then Marc! Nice one

[@TrexplorerUK]

Thanks Nick, yes, had a fantastic day actually. Went for a 3 hour walk with Dave Ford (you might have seen his videos) around the bombing range, then afterwards decided to do this part by myself to make mini video. Quite liking just making these quick videos at the moment :-)

[@newforestexplorer]

@@TrexplorerUK Awesome ! Yes I watch Dave every week when he uploads on a Friday. Did he show you what’s left of the volunteer rifle range not far from where you were?

[@TrexplorerUK]

@@newforestexplorer He did indeed! We also saw an adder, lizard and more. Was a cool meet up - lovely guy

[@newforestexplorer]

@@TrexplorerUK Yes he seems like a friendly old school teacher doesn’t he although I’ve never met him but I’m sure I’ll bump into him one day out there lol

[@rancidschannel3206]

That V in the side was made at the time of the shelter. If you look at the brick its actually black engineering brick rather than paint applied, by the looks, meaning that it was built in. It may be a nod to victory or could be a marking for building , V being 5 as a roman numeral maybe?