Fighting the Enemy in the Sky

Fighting the Enemy in the Sky (HM2DGZ)

Location: South Wonston, England SO21 3HN Hampshire
Country: United Kingdom
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N 51° 7.609', W 1° 19.461'

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Fighting the Enemy in the Sky

The First World War brought a new threat of destruction to home shores from airships and aircraft, invented just a few years earlier and recently armed. This was a terrifying development that needed a quick response, including anti-aircraft (AA) guns.
But how did you hit a target moving at unknown speed and height? In 1914 Britain had few purpose-designed AA guns, and in 1914-15 conventional guns were modified to fire at high angles. Several were placed to defend Dover, including two in the castle, two at the Drop Redoubt and two at Fort Burgoyne. Although ineffective, they provided some reassurance for civilians.
This gun, the 3-inch 20cwt, is the first British dedicated AA gun. Very few were available in 1914, but one was placed at Langdon Battery on the east side of the Dover fortress. Production had increased by mid-1916, and eight 3-inch guns were placed at Dover for the remainder of the war.
This is an original 3-inch gun. The replica platform folded up and it had wheels to enable the gun to be towed to any location.
This project has been made possible by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, as well as the support of the Friends of Dover Castle and the local community.
( photo caption )
- Attacks by airships and



aircraft at night were combatted by searchlights that attempted to illuminate them for the guns. Here, a searchlight is manned by a member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Anti-Aircraft Corps (Dover) on the roof of the greattower in Dover Castle.
- A Zepplin fixed in searchlight beams during a bombing raid over England in 1915/16.
- A bombardier of 41 Anti-Aircraft Company, Royal Garrison Artillery, at the breech of a 3-inch AA gun, Dover 1918.
Details
HM NumberHM2DGZ
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Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Friday, January 11th, 2019 at 7:02pm PST -08:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)30U E 617255 N 5665262
Decimal Degrees51.12681667, -1.32435000
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 51° 7.609', W 1° 19.461'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds51° 7' 36.54" N, 1° 19' 27.66" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Which side of the road?Marker is on the right when traveling North
Closest Postal AddressAt or near Unnamed Road, South Wonston England SO21 3HN, GB
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