During both WW1 & WW2 many coastal defence batteries with Anti-Aircraft guns & searchlight towers were set up all around the Orkney & Shetland Islands,many of these remain today and as several of these were instrumental in shooting down enemy aircraft on and around the islands, visits by members of the A.R.G.O.S group will be made to several of these installations and data recorded of what remains there,especially those directly involved in downing aircraft.
Also,the group will be looking at Barrage Balloon sites,which sadly, although acting as a deterant for enemy aircraft,brought down several allied aircraft both in and around Scapa Flow.
(Dave Earl)
Above: Scad AA Battery on Hoy, Director Tower, Magazine building and Gun empacement mount for twin 6-pounder guns.
Above: Engine room at Scad Battery on Hoy. Photo: Dave Earl.
Above: Searchlight building at Scad Battery,Hoy, this is typical of many around the island that are still intact today.Photo: Dave Earl.
Above: One of the Ammo trucks dumped over the cliff at Scad Battery, there is still remains of the old railtrack that runs down the hillside from the main road. Photo: Dave Earl
Men of 226 Anti Aircraft battery on Hoy. Photo: Via William Shearer.
Anti Aircraft guns at Yesnaby on the Orkney West coast manned by the Royal Navy who are seen here during training. Photo: Gregor Lamb Collection Orkney Library photo archive.
Above: Same building today as previous wartime B/W shot minus, guns, railing,doors & window on watch office. Not sure yet of building below, either storage for ammunition or an ops block, more research needed and findings will be posted here. Photo: Dave Ramsey.
More Anti Aircraft guns manned by Royal Navy personel at Yesnaby. Photo: Orkney Library Archives.
Above: The larger of these two buildings at Yesnaby has platforms for the diesel engines which used to power the generator for electricity for the various buildings in the battery,the smaller perhaps housed that generator? Photo: Dave Ramsey.
Another great aerial shot of Yesnaby AA battery from the air as it looks today. Photo: Neil Thain.
Herston AA Gun site.
Above: Carness Battery north of Kirkwall still has most of its buildings,however these are all on private land and permission must be obtained before a visit can be made.many of the buildings have been utilized as stores. Photo: Dave Earl.
One of the old buildings has even been glazed and a new door put on. The engine house can be seen to the right of the picture. Photo: Dave Earl.
(K Heath)
AA Gun at Lyness Museum
(K Heath)
(K Heath)
Pictures of an AA gun in a store at Lyness Museum.
Anti Aircraft Z Guns on Flotta
Known as Z Guns or MRLS (Multi Rocket Lauching Systems) a large number were set up on Flotta towards the end of the war, these rocket projectiles had already seen success in Hyde park during 1944 and though trials on Orkney were successful they were never fired here in anger.
Above: Flotta AA Z Guns being test fired on Flotta in 1945. Photo: IWM H39435.
The Flotta Z Guns were strategically placed with ammo shelters which resembled minature Nissen huts,and the guns were on a pedestal which could rotate 360 degrees. Each gun fired two 6 ft rockets which were around 4" in diameter and carried an 18 lb high explosive war head, and the rockets could reach an altitude of 19,000 feet and these guns were usually manned by Royal Artillery.
Above & Below: The Nissen type ammo shelters still remain on Flotta and above can be seen the flame from the Oil refinery. Photos: Dave Earl.
More on the Z Guns can be found here:
http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/Z-Battery
All Orkney Library photos are available for purchase here: