Orford Ness Research Station, as an outpost of the Roayal Aircraft Establishment, was very active during World War 2 with various tests and trials.
Many firing trials were carried out Shortly before the outbreak of war, a special range was set up to verify the accuracy of .303″ ammunition fired from the then relatively new 8-gun fighters.
As the war progressed, trials using enemy weapons, ammunition and aircraft were also carried out. A short selection is given below:
- Trials with 20mm ball ammunition against German self sealing tanks. (1941)
- Firing trials of 20mm HEI ammunition with 253 fuze against Heinkel III wings (1941)
- Firing trials against covered metal target tanks and flexible bag target tanks with German 7.92mm amminition (1941)
- Incendiary drop trials using German incendiaries and a captured Ju 88 (1942)
- Damaging Effect of German 55mm R.4.M rocket with H.E. head to British heavy bomber aircraft structures (1946)
IRGON has a large amount of research to complete in order to give a comprehensive overview of the activities carried out during this wartime period.