RAF Poling

RAF Poling. It was a Chain Home early-warning radar station constructed during the early years of the Second World War. Situated near the Sussex coast, it played a vital role in the United Kingdom's air defence network, providing critical detection data during the Battle of Britain and the later Baedeker Blitz. The station's technical infrastructure was a key component of the wider Dowding system that coordinated the response of RAF Fighter Command.

History

The decision to establish RAF Poling was driven by the urgent need to extend radar coverage along the English Channel approaches following the Munich Agreement and the subsequent outbreak of war. Its location was strategically chosen to fill a gap in the Chain Home network between stations like RAF Ventnor on the Isle of Wight and RAF Pevensey. Planning accelerated after the Battle of France and the Dunkirk evacuation, which heightened fears of a German invasion of Britain. The station became operational under the control of No. 11 Group RAF, a key formation within RAF Fighter Command responsible for the defence of London and the south-east.

Construction and facilities

Construction at the site began in 1940, utilizing standard designs for a Chain Home station. The most prominent features were the 360-foot tall steel transmitter towers and 240-foot wooden receiver towers, which dominated the local landscape near Angmering. The station's technical site housed the transmitter and receiver blocks, protected by blast walls, while a separate domestic site accommodated personnel. Power was supplied by on-site generators, and the entire complex was defended by light anti-aircraft guns and a detachment of the British Army. The operations block, often manned by personnel from the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, processed radar returns for relay to the Filter Room at RAF Bentley Priory.

Operational use

RAF Poling provided continuous early warning throughout its service, detecting formations of the Luftwaffe approaching the Sussex and Hampshire coasts. Its data was integral to the Dowding system, informing the controllers at the No. 11 Group RAF headquarters at RAF Uxbridge. The station was itself a target; it was attacked on several occasions, including a notable raid by Junkers Ju 88 aircraft. Information from Poling and sister stations like RAF Dover and RAF Rye was crucial during the Battle of Britain, the Blitz on Portsmouth, and later attacks during the Baedeker Blitz. Its role evolved with the introduction of more advanced systems like Chain Home Low.

Post-war history

With the end of the Second World War and the advent of new radar technology, RAF Poling was declared redundant and closed in 1945. The site was decommissioned, and the iconic towers were demolished in the late 1940s. The land was returned to agricultural use, with little visible evidence of the installation remaining. The historical significance of the site and the wider Chain Home network is commemorated by organizations such as the Royal Air Force Museum and the Imperial War Museum. Some surviving structures, like concrete bases, can still be found in the area, serving as a subtle reminder of its role in the Defence of the Realm.

See also

* RAF Kenley * Battle of the Atlantic * RAF Medmenham * Operation Overlord * RAF Neatishead

Category:Royal Air Force stations in Sussex Category:Military history of West Sussex Category:World War II sites in England