RAF Ash
Near Sandwich, Kent in England
The entrance to former RAF Ash during 2008
RAF Ash is located in Kent
RAF Ash
RAF Ash
Location within Kent
Coordinates51°16′8.04″N 1°17′40.92″E / 51.2689000°N 1.2947000°E / 51.2689000; 1.2947000
TypeAir defence Control & Reporting Centre
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence (MOD)
OperatorRoyal Air Force
ConditionClosed
Site history
Built1942 (1942) – 1943
In use1943–1958 (as RAF Sandwich)
1986 – 1995 (1995) (as RAF Ash)
FateSite sold in 1998 for civilian use, bunker now used as a data centre

Royal Air Force Ash or more simply RAF Ash (formerly RAF Sandwich) was a Royal Air Force underground control centre and radar station situated near the village of Woodnesborough, Kent, England.

History

RAF Sandwich

RAF Sandwich was originally a Ground Controlled Interception (GCI) site situated in Ash Road, Sandwich. However, after the Second World War the area was chosen for one of a chain of ROTOR air defence radar stations and the site was relocated to an underground bunker 1.5 miles to the southwest in Marshborough Road, Ash. The site later closed on 1 October 1958 and was sold on 22 March 1965.[1]

RAF Ash

In 1980 the site was re-acquired by the RAF for the development of Improved UK Air Defence Ground Environment (IUKADGE) and became operational as RAF Ash on 6 January 1986. It closed as an RAF station in 1995.[1] The Ministry of Defence sold the site on 24 July 1998.[2]

Post-closure

The site is now used as a secure data centre by The Bunker, an Internet hosting company.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Sandwich". RAF Heraldry Trust. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 2 Dec 1999 (pt 5)". publications.parliament.uk. 2 December 1999. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  3. ↑ "About – The Bunker". thebunker.net. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
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