J Temple-West

Off the path, down through the undergrowth....

Hi Don,

We'll get you up there the next time you're over.. I'll see If I can arrange to get the keys.

Ok, there are few more..

Most of the bunkers are now privately owned or are run by the " Channel Islands Occupation Society" but there a few that are open to walk around.. This one is very well hidden which makes it popular with the Kids/artists..

+....

Every bay and inlet were covered by a bunker. Here are a couple of examples..

The 'M19' bunker....

@Tony... If you're ever over, give me a call. :food-smiley-004:

This particular bunker complex is opened during the summer months, hence the MG.

On to the defensive emplacements at Corbiere..

Here we find a rather unusual system. Joined together by means of a tunnel are two bunkers. The upper bunker was a heavy machine position with the guns mounted within a steel cupola (sechsschartenturm).

The lower bunker is the 'M19' automatic mortar position. The actual mortar was also mounted within a steel cupola (both cupolas were removed, postwar)..

+...

+..

One of the big guns, replaced after its retrieval from the bottom of the cliffs.

The next few pix are of the gun emplacements on the headland..

Frontal view of the 6 metre rangefinder/periscope cupolas.

Periscope cupolas.. Over 7" of steel.

On to the Kriegsmarine command bunker/Art' Battery 604 (Lothringen) at Noirmont Point.

The command bunker was built on two main floors with the range finder tower above.. There are three of these Range finder towers at this end of the Island for the trianglulation of fire over the channel between the islands.

??the permanent fortification of the Channel Islands must be pressed forward energetically to create an impregnable fortress.?

Adolf Hitler

20th October, 1941.

A quick trip to some of the bunkers in the west of the Island..

1st up.. One of my favourite emplacements. Situated on the heights of the sand dunes, just behind my house, this mortar emplacement was one of the defence positions for the coastal artilllery battery " Hindenburg".

I look forward to this thread..

From what I remember, N&G Gog's were maker marked. Were they also letter/number coded?

Early Bulgarian pilot qualification badge. German made, screwback.

A minty officer's Pilots..

Luftwaffe Maritime Personnel (Seem?nnisches Personal).

During a little research into coastal air squadrons and air-sea rescue, in particular, I came across some information on the little known units that manned the air-traffic control ships and boats (Versorgungsschiffe) that were responsible for overall safety control within seaplane bases and for the sea rescue service.

From 1935 to1940 the members of these units were mostly civilian workers, changing to Luftwaffe personnel at the onset of war. As well as their duties with the air-sea rescue squadrons, these units were equipped with AA weapons and used in the North African campaign as anti-aircraft ships (Flakkampff?hren), covering the supply convoys bound for the ?Afrka Korps?.. During these convoy duties, these ships were often involved in gruelling combat with allied aircraft, suffering huge casualties.

It was due to these units that the ?Luftwaffe Sea Battle badge (Seekampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe) was instituted in November, 1944.

Here is the, rather striking, insigne of the ?Luftwaffe Marine?. It came in silver (NCO) or gold (officers). As can be seen, this example is the officers version.

And that 'one and only' is a very fine example of a 2nd pattern (J2) Juncker. One of the harder P/O's to locate.

Very nice, Jos.

Having done a quick 'Google' search, it would seem that the Stuka School, in Graz, was one of the main training centres for dive bomber pilots..

As to the entry.. Either he became operational or, did his check-out on stukas so that he had the instructor qualification.

Very nice, Jan.

I especially like the double marked 'Assmann'.

Reverse.

Late example in zinc.. Attributed to C.E Juncker.

With that angled cross-member I'd say it's a Messerschmitt Bf 109 b..