First proper post on here so bear with me if the photos don't work first time. Done quite a few trips over the years (loads to Normandy) but decided last year to do some V weapons sites in Northern France. Did the "mainstream" La Coupelle and the bunker at Watten which are well worth visiting. I like to find stuff though so armed with a list of sites, a book and a Facebook guide I set off to find a few others.
Some are "restored" proper ramp sites and some the quickly thrown up temporary sites that the Germans constructed to try and avoid the allied bombing raids. These later sites consisted now of hardstandings and sheds converted for farm use (if that). Some take some real finding!
A couple of weeks after returning from the planned trip I did a track day at Abbeville (To the others just a racetrack but to me a racetrack built on the perimeter of an airfield with history). I sloped off before the obligatory Buffalo Grill steak meal and managed to find another site. Carre Bois - The original "Ski" site located by aerial recon.
WOW - I got there early evening and drove past it 3 times. You'd never know it was there. Light faded rapidly and it was a scary place with all the nesting Rooks screeching but so worth it. In fact so good I went back the next morning after loading the car on the trailer. Got some better photos (iphone only) and got threatened by a group of shotgun toting Frenchman. FFS, it's an historical site. What harm did they think I was doing taking photos armed with an iphone and a Caterham on a trailer.
Anyway - Carre Bois is pretty much exactly as it was left after the war, huge bomb craters from the many raids on it and all the non bomb destroyed buildings left intact, Ski tunnels, water tank, (anti) magnetic building, workshops, chemical stores and launch bunker. I went very early October and it was accessible - popped in again in May on the way back from another motorsport event and wearing shorts and 6' high nettles made progress difficult. I reckon November December when the veg has died back and you'd see a lot.
The last 25 photos are Carre Bois
Bookmarks