I was USAF stationed there in 1982. I'm pretty sure when you were standing at the paved road looking to your left and if you traveled the fork to the right it was the road that went to the center of the cage when I was there. Concrete Block building still standing looks like the old fire dept and gas mask training building if I recall. Enjoyed my time in the UK thanks for the tour.
I was at Chicksands from 92-94 with the US Air Force. I loved the Elephant Cage and really enjoyed this video. Thank you! I will get back some day to take this walk and visit the museum.
Thanks for the walk around Chicksands, I was stationed there 88-92, loved every minute. Great pubs nearby: The Cock in Broom, and The Stone Jug in Clophill!. Anyway, the Germans didn't bomb the Elephant Cage during WWII, because it wasn't actually constructed until 1962! Cheers 🙂
I was a kid that grew up on that base in the 80s. My dad worked at that area. And as they only ever called it "the elephant cage" and my dad called his uniform the "monkey suit" then my child brain was sure he worked at a zoo or with animals. Some kids get the disappointment of no Santa, I got it when I finally had to face my dad never worked with elephants lol. Chicksand was a marvelous place to grow up though.
There was a public footpath that ran past the antenna array back when Chicksands was a USAFE ELINT intercept site. The public footpath ran through the shotfall area of the clay shooting range next to the antenna array and shooting had to stop to let walkers pass by. There used to be signs and a white warning chain around the antenna and the USAFE Security Force personnel were authorised to open fire on anyone unauthorised approaching the antenna. How do I know this? I was a member of the RAF Chicksands Rod & Gun Club back in the late 1980s and early 1990s and shot skeet there on a regular basis.
That was interesting yet again ! I don't blame you for being careful around there. As I don't iimagine getting shot accidently is any less unpleasant than getting shot deliberately. Years ago, I used to enjoy riding my motorbike around the Purbecks. You have to watch out for red flags there as well. Otherwise you might end up getting a very close ( and unwanted ) look at the bottom hull of a Challenger Tank. The Tank Museum at Bovington is well worth a vist though if you ever find yourself in the area.
I've actually seen a few of Bovingtons videos zed it looks like an excellent museum! LindyBeige was there recently and Al Murray has also done a couple. Dorset isn't it? Bloody long way for me!
@@jim.m75 Yes, it is in Dorset. So I don't suppose you'll ever end up there. But if you ever decide to have a holiday in Weymouth, it's quite close to Bovington lol.
At 9.17 mate - you are looking at the concrete bases to the 'Elephant Cage' cable basements and antenna array - nothing to do with 'anti-aircraft placements' - totally barmy. It's all gone now and has been for over 25 years. The 'Danger Area' is the Live Firing Range. There is nothing odd about the area. There is also a Clay Pigeon Club active there. There is no access to the camp, you must stay on the Public Footpath.
They weren't dotted "all around the country", there were only eight throughout the entire world. They weren't bombed in WW II because they weren't built until the 1960s. Is there anywhere else you plan to visit you know nothing about?
I was USAF stationed there in 1982. I'm pretty sure when you were standing at the paved road looking to your left and if you traveled the fork to the right it was the road that went to the center of the cage when I was there. Concrete Block building still standing looks like the old fire dept and gas mask training building if I recall. Enjoyed my time in the UK thanks for the tour.
Thanks for the info on the concrete building, great to hear from someone who was stationed there in the midst of the cold war!
I was at Chicksands from 92-94 with the US Air Force. I loved the Elephant Cage and really enjoyed this video. Thank you! I will get back some day to take this walk and visit the museum.
Cheers chelsie I'm glad you enjoyed the video! I still haven't got back to the museum myself yet, thanks for the reminder :)
Thanks for the walk around Chicksands, I was stationed there 88-92, loved every minute. Great pubs nearby: The Cock in Broom, and The Stone Jug in Clophill!. Anyway, the Germans didn't bomb the Elephant Cage during WWII, because it wasn't actually constructed until 1962! Cheers 🙂
I was a kid that grew up on that base in the 80s. My dad worked at that area. And as they only ever called it "the elephant cage" and my dad called his uniform the "monkey suit" then my child brain was sure he worked at a zoo or with animals. Some kids get the disappointment of no Santa, I got it when I finally had to face my dad never worked with elephants lol. Chicksand was a marvelous place to grow up though.
I clearly remember a small lake next to the building on the "Hill" that had an UXO sign back in the late 1980s.
There was a public footpath that ran past the antenna array back when Chicksands was a USAFE ELINT intercept site. The public footpath ran through the shotfall area of the clay shooting range next to the antenna array and shooting had to stop to let walkers pass by. There used to be signs and a white warning chain around the antenna and the USAFE Security Force personnel were authorised to open fire on anyone unauthorised approaching the antenna. How do I know this? I was a member of the RAF Chicksands Rod & Gun Club back in the late 1980s and early 1990s and shot skeet there on a regular basis.
Great video love it.
Cheers Lawrence, what do you reckon to Saturday 29th?
That was interesting yet again ! I don't blame you for being careful around there. As I don't iimagine getting shot accidently is any less unpleasant than getting shot deliberately. Years ago, I used to enjoy riding my motorbike around the Purbecks. You have to watch out for red flags there as well. Otherwise you might end up getting a very close ( and unwanted ) look at the bottom hull of a Challenger Tank. The Tank Museum at Bovington is well worth a vist though if you ever find yourself in the area.
I've actually seen a few of Bovingtons videos zed it looks like an excellent museum! LindyBeige was there recently and Al Murray has also done a couple. Dorset isn't it? Bloody long way for me!
@@jim.m75 Yes, it is in Dorset. So I don't suppose you'll ever end up there. But if you ever decide to have a holiday in Weymouth, it's quite close to Bovington lol.
interesting place Jim, waiting here for your musem tour cheers mate
Cheers Bob, won't be too long! Happy New year :)
It's a danger area because it's close to a range.
Yes very much so, cheers John!
At 9.17 mate - you are looking at the concrete bases to the 'Elephant Cage' cable basements and antenna array - nothing to do with 'anti-aircraft placements' - totally barmy. It's all gone now and has been for over 25 years. The 'Danger Area' is the Live Firing Range. There is nothing odd about the area. There is also a Clay Pigeon Club active there. There is no access to the camp, you must stay on the Public Footpath.
Thanks for pointing out the cable placements, I did wonder what they were!
What Antenna, I don't see any stinking Antenna!
Golden valley ? Whheres the name come from originate
Actually the CDAA was a FLR 9. It was developed after the War based on German technology. There were at least 9 of these. They were used for HFDF.
They were used for much more than just DF.
I used to live near there and the array was supposed to he top secret! Even though you could see it for miles, officially it didn't exist!
Cheers Andy, it's a bit of an elephant in the landscape eh?! I'm amazed it wasn't targeted in WW2.
Speak to #RingwayManchester about the antenna arrays, he is a fellow ham radio op and does a lot of vids about antenna systems around the uk
I was there in 90, imma yank need u to help me find me mates they were in sheifild I was in henlow
I was a dependent she was inlisted I hung out the the fudging locals aint seen em in 35
Jason del scarlette
it did not exist inww2
They weren't dotted "all around the country", there were only eight throughout the entire world. They weren't bombed in WW II because they weren't built until the 1960s. Is there anywhere else you plan to visit you know nothing about?