Alice Smith and Luke Knight reported for the BBC News in Somerset. In the serene setting of the Mendip Hills at Westbury Beacon nature reserve, butterflies flutter among wildflowers, painting a tranquil picture. However, this peaceful site was once a critical component of Britain’s Cold War defenses during the 1960s. Engineers and radar specialists meticulously tested missile guidance systems and improved radar technology in response to escalating tensions with the Soviet Union.
Positioned between an ancient burial mound and a decaying tin hut, these fearless men atop a nuclear fallout bunker were buzzed by aircraft flying shockingly low over their heads. Engineer Brian Prewer reminisced about the dangers inherent in this top-secret operation, marveling at the pilots’ precision in skimming by a mere 10 feet above ground level. The work was so classified that even apprentices aiding the team were shielded from the true nature of their tasks, led to believe that they were tracking moth migration.
Amidst the picturesque Somerset landscape, the site’s strategic location on a south-facing escarpment facilitated the testing of radar technology with full-size targets. Canberra bombers, departing from RAF Pershore in Worcestershire, roared overhead as the radar system on the Bronze Age burial mound intercepted their signals. All recorded data was relayed to the Ministry of Defence to enhance missile targeting systems, safeguarding Britain’s air defenses. The covert nature of the work demanded constant communication between engineers and pilots, ensuring precision in tracking and recording vital information.
A trio of Royal Observer Corps members, adept at detecting and measuring the fallout from nuclear detonations, shared the site with the radar team. A modest nuclear fallout bunker offered protection in case of an attack, enabling the precise mapping of explosion sites across the country. The collective efforts of the radar team not only propelled advancements in missile guidance and early warning systems but also underscored the indispensable role this technology played in fortifying Britain’s defense strategy. Today, as butterflies flit among the wildflowers, Westbury Beacon’s covert past remains hidden, a sanctuary for these delicate creatures in stark contrast to its former military significance
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