Battle of Britain Bunker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Britain Bunker |
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| Uxbridge, Middlesex, England | |
The No.11 Group Operations Room
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 Battle of Britain Bunker
Shown within Greater London
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| Coordinates | 51°32′28.5″N 000°27′55″W / 51.541250°N 0.46528°W |
| Type | Underground operations room |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Air Ministry |
| Operator | Royal Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Built | February - August 1939 |
| Built by | Sir Robert McAlpine |
| In use | 1939–1945 |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | No. 11 Group RAF |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name | Group Operations Room |
| Designated | 1 December 2005 |
| Reference no. | 1392556 |
The Battle of Britain Bunker is a super important underground room at RAF Uxbridge in England. During World War II, it was where the RAF controlled their fighter planes. This was especially true during the famous Battle of Britain and on D-Day. Today, it's a cool museum run by Hillingdon Council, and it even has a new visitor centre that opened in 2018.
The Bunker is found at RAF Uxbridge, which is near Uxbridge town centre and Uxbridge Underground station.
Contents
How Air Defence Worked
The Battle of Britain Bunker was a key part of the world's first air defence system. This system was called the "Dowding system". It was named after Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding. He was the boss of Fighter Command at the time.
The Dowding system connected different groups. These included Fighter Command, Anti-Aircraft Command, and the Observer Corps. It also linked up with radar and intelligence services. For the first time, all these groups worked together. Their main goal was to defend the UK's airspace.
The Bunker was home to No. 11 Group. This group was very important for several reasons:
- As one of four main headquarters, No. 11 Group's controller made big decisions. They decided how many fighter planes to send. They also chose which planes and squadrons to use.
- No. 11 Group also managed seven sector stations. These were places where fighter squadrons were based. Some of these were RAFs Kenley, North Weald, and Biggin Hill.
- The Bunker and its Operations Room were the first of their kind. Other group headquarters were planned and built based on this design.
The Operations Room showed information in different ways. This helped the controller make quick decisions.
- A big map table showed where enemy and friendly planes were. They used numbered blocks to mark them.
- A "tote" board showed what squadrons were doing. Lights would show if they were "At Standby" or "Enemy Sighted".
- Colored discs showed the weather at different airfields.
- A special clock helped track time. All this information came in by telephone.
History of the Bunker
Building the Bunker
The Bunker was built between February and August 1939. It was made to house the No. 11 Group Operations Room. Before this, their operations room was above ground. But after the Munich Crisis in 1938, war seemed likely. So, the RAF decided they needed a protected underground room.
A company called Sir Robert McAlpine built the Bunker. Its construction was kept a top secret. This was to stop plans from falling into enemy hands.
The floor of the Bunker is 60 feet underground. You reach it by going down 76 steps. All the pipes for electricity, water, and telephones go down this staircase. The walls, floor, and ceiling are about 1 meter thick. They are made of concrete with a waterproof lining. This thick concrete and 30 feet of earth above meant no bomb of that time could get through. A special ventilation system was also installed. It still works well today.
The Second World War
On September 6, 1939, just three days into World War II, No. 11 Group had a "friendly fire" incident. This was called the Battle of Barking Creek. Radar reported enemy aircraft. The controller in the Bunker sent out two squadrons. But one squadron's Spitfires mistakenly shot down two Hurricanes from another squadron.
In April 1940, Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park joined No. 11 Group. He became its Air Officer Commanding.
The German air force, the Luftwaffe, tried to destroy the RAF. No. 11 Group, controlled from the Bunker, saw the most action. They shot down many German planes. On August 12, 1940, the Luftwaffe attacked the radar system. But it only caused minor damage. The next day, "Eagle Day," they started attacking British airfields.
The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, visited the Bunker on August 16, 1940. He said his famous words, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed, by so many, to so few." He said this near the Bunker's entrance. The King and Queen also visited on September 6, 1940.
On September 1, 1940, the Luftwaffe started bombing London. Churchill visited again on September 15, 1940. He wrote in his memoirs about seeing "all of the bulbs glowed red." This meant every No. 11 Group squadron was fighting at the same time.
In December 1940, Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory became the new Air Officer Commanding. The old wooden plotting markers were replaced with metal ones. The light-indicator system was also updated. After the Battle of Britain, No. 11 Group mostly defended London during the Blitz. They also helped with the Dieppe Raid in 1942. The air operations for D-Day on June 6, 1944, were also controlled from RAF Uxbridge.
After the War
No. 11 Group moved to a new location in 1958. A memorial was unveiled near the Bunker's entrance. It remembered the Bunker's important role in the Battle of Britain.
In 1975, the No. 11 Group Operations Room was restored. It was made to look just like it did during the war. In 1985, a museum was created inside the Bunker. The Operations Room then opened for daily visits.
In 2015, the government promised £1 million to restore the Bunker. They also planned a new visitor centre above ground. Hillingdon Council added another £4.5 million for the new centre. The new visitor centre officially opened in March 2018.
