Second World War pillbox, south-west corner of Debden Airfield, Wimbish (EHER 21540)

A very powerful type of pillbox with very thick shell-proof walls, measured at 5’ 6”. A World War Two pillbox at the former Debden military airfield, now Carver Barracks. It was located immediately to the east of a dispersal pen on the south side of the western part of the longer east-west runway. The pillbox once formed part of Royal Air Force Debden's defences. The unspecified type of pillbox was thought to have been built between 1940 and 1941. It was constructed using reinforced concrete. It was reported as still being extant in the period from 1996-1998.

Standing alongside the remains of a dispersal pen is an hexagonal, brick and concrete pillbox. Like the others at the airfield, it is a very powerful type with very thick shell-proof walls, measured at 5’ 6”. There are six loopholes, each of them with the remains of Turnbull mountings. There is a low crawl-in entrance. Four photos of site. <1> NRHE data transfer: A World War Two pillbox at the former Debden military airfield, Debden (sic), Essex, now Carver Barracks. The pillbox once formed part of Royal Air Force Debden's defences. The unspecified type of pillbox was thought to have been built between 1940 and 1941. It was constructed using reinforced concrete. It was reported as still being extant in the period from 1996-1998. <2> Correction to the address information given in <2>: the NGR supplied in <2> is in Wimbish Civil Parish, not Debden. <3> The position of the pillbox concords with that of one marked on a 1947 plan of RAF Debden, located immediately east of a dispersal pen on the south side of the western half of the longer east-west running runway. <4>