Timeline

1913 –14: Site acquired by the War Department

1915: Airfield created and the Experimental Flying
Section (RFC) relocates

1915: Experimental work on aircraft armament and
gunnery and bombing techniques starts

1918: Site put on ‘care and maintenance’ order

1924: Site re-opened as Martlesham outstation

1924: Experimental bombing trials start

1928: Black Beacon built for RAE

1933: Bomb Ballistics Building built

1935: Watt-Watson starts work on radar

1938-59: Firing trials to determine the ‘lethality and
vulnerability’ of aircraft and components

1939: Orford Research Station created

1940 –45: War-Time station

1945: The Barracks built

1953: AWRE relocates

1955: Model Ballistics Firing Range built for RAE

1956 –66: Six labs built for environmental testing of
nuclear weapons and components

1963: Impact Facility built

1967: Cobra Mist construction starts

1971: AWRE work transferred to Aldermaston

1972: Cobra Mist ‘over-the-horizon’ radar operational

1973: Cobra Mist ceases operations

1970s: Site cleared of large quantities of munitions

1987: Site abandoned