Bombs being stacked in one of the tunnels at raf fauld the cause of the disaster was not made clear at the time. The military accident that created the hanbury crater on november 27, 1944 was, at the time, the largest nonnuclear explosion ever to have occurred in the world. Nov 01, 2018 the raf fauld explosion was caused by the accidental detonation of 4,000 tonnes of ordinance to the east of hanbury. It is a tremendous personal account of one of the fiercest and most idealised air conflicts the battle of britain seen through the eyes of a pilot of the famous 609 squadron, which shot down over 100 planes in that epic contest. How bombs meant for nazi germany ended up devastating a.
I originally heard about the fauld explosion and the hanbury crater on a sunday morning in 2008, i think, when listening to radio 4. In 1937, 450,000 square feet of disused gypsum workings next to peter fords plaster works were purchased by the air ministry for weapons storage during the second world war. The fauld explosion created the hanbury crater, a huge hole in the staffordshire landscape. The incident saw a mixture of high explosive bombs and other types of weapons including 500 million rounds of rifle ammunition go up in smoke.
Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. The raf fauld explosion was one of the largest nonnuclear explosions in history and the largest to occur on uk soil. When 4,000 tonnes of high explosives detonated in the uks biggest ever nonnuclear blast jean fisher adopted the british wartime motto of keep calm and carry on by reaching for a cup of tea. Raf fauld underground munition tunnels, staffordshire, 20. This is a list of road, railway, waterway, and other tunnels in the united kingdom a tunnel is an underground passageway with no defined minimum length, though it may be considered to be at least twice as long as wide. Of course, the crater still exists to this day, although it is now less raw having become overgrown with flora. The site of one of the largest nonnuclear explosions in history, created when a massive bomb dump accidentally exploded. Tales of the raf book 1 on your kindle in under a minute. This place is situated in staffordshire county, west midlands, england, united kingdom, its geographical coordinates are 52 51 0 north, 1 42 0 west and its original name with diacritics is fauld. The raf fauld log book stored at the national archives at kew confirms that the bomb dump was in 1940 and 1941 dealing with only a fraction of the bomb tonnage it shifted towards the climax of the war, in 1944. The day an accidental 4,000ton blast laid waste to a. How staffordshire was changed forever by the uks largest.
The raf fauld explosion was caused by the accidental detonation of 4,000 tonnes of ordinance to the east of hanbury. Bombs being stacked in one of the tunnels at raf fauld. During wwii, the raf used the old plaster mine at fauld, england, as storage for up to 20,000 tons of ammunition. Set in in world war ii with the main character, 12 year old harry winslow. When i was instructing at fenton students mentioned exploring the tunnels which would take flyers across to the dispersed aircraft areas on the south side. Raf munitions storage during world war ii wikipedia. Over a hundred sites were considered and rejected for the raf s underground storage. Inside the two miles of tunnels, thousands of 6in howitzer shells were piled 20 deep.
Underground tunnels at raf welford showing 8 of 38 messages. Have wanted to visit this place for a long time and it didnt disappoint. On november 27th 1944 an explosion in an underground bomb store in the village of fauld, staffordshire, the likes of which the uk had ever known, killed 70 people and left a crater in the earth 400ft deep and threequarters of a mile long. The definitive history of 603 city of edinburgh squadron, rauxaf volume ii. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. This crater was once raf fauld, an old mining operation converted to an underground bomb storage depot for the royal air force. Fauld crater hanbury 2020 all you need to know before. The late professor mick aston of time team fame was the narrator of the short documentary which gave a brief history of the event together with a description of the site as it was in 2008. Many years ago 1970s maybe i had a paperback book about underground london. Accidental detonation of 4,000 tons of explosives in. I have been looking into raf welford, berkshire, for some time and have come across articles stating that there are a series of underground tunnels. It is the definitive history of the rafs illfated excursion into underground storage during the second world war, culminating in the disaster at fauld. Raf fauld, high explosives tunnels, staffordshire may 20 raf fauld was a royal air force underground munitions storage depot located 2.
Popular raf squadron books showing 2 of 33 the greatest squadron of them all. The ammunitions were stored underground in disused gypsum mines, and contained, at the time of the explosion, nearly 4,000 tons of ordnance and 500 million rounds of rifle ammunition, and a variety of other weapons. The raf venture into underground storage was one of. An aerial video showing the fauld crater near tutbury, staffordshire. Royal air force fauld is a former royal air force underground munitions storage depot located 2. Inside raf fauld the forbidden remains of britains. The raf fauld log book stored at the national archives at kew confirms that the bomb dump was in 1940 and 1941 dealing with only a fraction. The raf venture into underground storage was one of disaster and tragedy. The raf fauld explosion was a military accident which occurred at 11. Somewhere between 35004000 tons of munitions exploded, mostly high explosive bombs but including up to 500 million rounds of.
Raf fauld was a royal air force underground munitions storage depot located 2. Raf fauld, the worlds largest accidental blast, 1944 paperback october 20, 2015. Raf fauld, situated in a former gypsum mine, was the main repository of high explosive ordnance in the country. The underground munitions storage depot at raf fauld, near.
Fauld crater hanbury 2020 all you need to know before you go. Feb 07, 2012 the fauld explosion stands even today as the largest explosion to occur on british soil. Raf fauld, high explosives tunnels, staffordshire may. Sep 19, 2009 mark rowe reports on a couple of new angles about fauld. The day an accidental 4,000ton blast laid waste to a staffordshire. See all 4 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Oct 01, 2015 derek holloway whose father corporal william holloway was part of the raf at fauld visits the memorial site. Royal air force fauld is a former royal air force underground munitions storage depot located. There had been some smallscale use of underground munitions stores in britain during the first world war, although these were more general purpose than specifically for the raf. The depot was administered by 95 maintenance unit raf which came under the control of raf bassingbourn. There are two bhqs at raf hawkinge the other on is known at the old battle head quarters. The explosion was to this day, the worlds biggest nonnuclear explosion 1 update. Mark rowe reports on a couple of new angles about fauld. Jul 20, 2016 forbidden remains of britains biggest explosion.
Jean was an innocent 19yearold at the time and working in the office at raf fauld near hanbury, with the second world war still raging after more. Would anyone with actual knowledge of these tunnels ie where they start and end, please pm me. The run down of the large reserve depots paralleled these developments. The crater was caused by an underground explosion in the old raf bomb store killing 70 people, demolishing two farms and the. Jul 05, 2008 raf fauld explosion this site is by tutbury near burton and well worth a visit a good book to find on this explosion is the day the dump went up by mark roweno. The rhydymwyn valley history society is an organisation which researches and promotes the operation of the former ministry of supplys valley works in the alyn valley at rhydymwyn in northeast wales. Only chilmark was retained, as a reserve depot for the replenishment of overseas stock. Harry, who has become friends with the fighter pilots at the near by raf base has great adventures while learning life lessons in respect, responsibility and freindship. The accident, britains biggest ever explosion, claimed the lives of at least 70 people and tore down homes in the nearby village of hanbury. It is still the site of the worlds biggest nonnuclear explosion. Raf fauld, high explosives tunnels, staffordshire may 20. The local area has lots thats slowly being bulldozed and hidden. The fauld explosion crater at hanbury amusing planet. More than 4,000 tonnes of bombs and ammunition kept in the underground storerooms of raf fauld detonated in a single, deadly moment.
Next monthly meeting cancelled the visitor centre, 17, nant alyn road, rhydymwyn, ch7 5hq. Voices from the explosion raf fauld explosion book. Storemen stack 250lb medium capacity bombs in one of the tunnels at raf fauld. We currently have 149 books in this category in stock. The hanbury crater staffordshire, england atlas obscura. Raf fauld explosion tunnel entrance through the crater. Eyewitness valerie hardy has now revealed her account of events in a new book voices from the explosion. The book, kindle and ebook title that explores the worlds biggest accidental explosion, at raf fauld in 1944 from a firsthand perspective. Mar 16, 2014 on november 27th 1944, one of the largest nonnuclear explosions in history happened at the munitions storage depot raf fauld.
Something like a million tons of earth and rock were thrown into the air to rain down over a wide area as dark sludge. Underground storage tunnels such as the one at raf fauld were constructed across the country. Raf fauld the detonator stores, staffordshire on november 27th 1944 an explosion in an underground bomb store in the village of fauld, staffordshire, the likes of which the uk had ever known, killed 70 people and left a crater in the earth 400ft deep and threequarters of a mile long. In his book, for a shilling a day, the stars peter rhodes recalls a. After a quick examination he announced that we had been dropped in the. Derek holloway whose father corporal william holloway was part of the raf at fauld visits the memorial site. A detailed overview of raf ammunition storage policy through the interwar years.
Lords bridge held one weeks supply of ammunition and was itself supplied by the central ammunition depot at fauld in staffordshire which maintained supplies of 15 20,000 tons. The day the dump went up the explosion at raf fauld in 1944 is what the former air force bomb store is most famous for, understandably. This is an apolitical forum for discussions on the axis nations and related topics hosted by the axis history factbook in cooperation with christian ankerstjernes panzerworld and christoph awenders ww2 day by day. Storemen stack 250lb mc bombs in one of the tunnels at no. In those day, the area was used by the royal air force as an ammunition dump called raf fauld. Fauld crater hanbury 2020 all you need to know before you. These eerie photographs show the scene of the biggest nonnuclear explosion in history killing at least 70 people and leaving dozens more seriously injured.
Between 3,500 and 4,000 tonnes of ordnance exploded mostly comprising high explosive hefilled bombs, but including a variety of other types of weapons and including 500 million rounds of rifle ammunition. I live quite close to fauld in staffordshire and a few months ago we managed to get into the remaining tunnels, there is still a vast underground network of tunnels down there, we even got behind a wall into the old section which has blast damage and roof falls. Inside raf fauld the forbidden remains of britains biggest. Mar 04, 2016 today im at raf hawkinge and exploring the forgotten underground battle headquarters. The day 4,000 tonnes of high explosives detonated at raf fauld. The fauld explosion stands even today as the largest explosion to occur on british soil. Illustrated history of the development, construction and often the subsequent destruction of the raf s five huge. There had been staff shortages, a management position had remained empty for a year, and 189 inexperienced italian pows were working in the mines at the time of the accident. Commander captain in return invited me to a conducted tour by him of the storage caves and tunnels.
Aug 08, 2019 eyewitness valerie hardy has now revealed her account of events in a new book voices from the explosion. Sep 27, 2017 when 4,000 tonnes of high explosives detonated in the uks biggest ever nonnuclear blast jean fisher adopted the british wartime motto of keep calm and carry on by reaching for a cup of tea. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Discover the hanbury crater in staffordshire, england. However seriously metal tracks and presumably metal wheels arent the best combination in an explosives store. Other former servicemen who worked at fauld confirm that they were not allowed to speak after duty about their work, even to family. Chislehurst caves, southeast of london, were bought in october 1914 and a small portion of the twenty miles 32 km of tunnels was prepared for storing up to 1,000 tons of explosives and raw.
Spitfire pilot was written in 1940 in the heat of battle when the raf stood alone against the might of hitlers third reich. We all got out and waved our thanks and farewells to the crew and major jenner checked his map. After a quick examination he announced that we had been dropped in the wrong place. Popular raf books share book recommendations with your. If you are looking for a specific book which we do not have in stock, then please get in touch and well let you know just as soon as it comes in. Be prepared for a short muddy walk wellies required from the excellent cock inn. It occurred when some 3,5004,000 tones of bombs, shells and rifle ammunition exploded at raf fauld, a bomb dump in a disused gypsum mine. Aug 29, 2008 the fauld explosion created the hanbury crater, a huge hole in the staffordshire landscape. Illustrated history of the development, construction and often the subsequent destruction of the rafs five huge. Rhydymwyn valley history society tunnel tours flintshire. Today im at raf hawkinge and exploring the forgotten underground battle headquarters. With the war intensifying, the uk and the united states scrambled to create more and larger facilities to house the munitions needed to fight a global conflict.
The fauld explosion barato canada goose invierno chaquetas. Eerie photographs show inside the fauld raf base after. Eerie photographs reveal inside raf fauld where 70 people died in 1944 and where a huge cache of unexploded bombs is still buried. Lords bridge air ammunition park subterranea britannica. The vast subterranean network of tunnels was packed to the roof with.
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