"Bernhard" station Be-3

["Bernhard" station locations - intro]

Latest page update: Aprli 2023 (updated Fig. 45, 46A ,and 46B)

Previous page updates: November 2019 (added & used ref. 179 & 252A-252C))

BERNHARD INSTALLATION BE-3 AT LE-BOIS-JULIEN (France, dept. 62)

The Bernhard station at Le-Bois-Julien is located ca. 35 km south of Calais and ca. 18 km southeast of Boulogne-sur-Mer. This is only 64 km (40 miles) southeast of Dover, England! There is no other high ground between the station and the Channel. This site is also referred to as Mont Violette - Desvres. However, Mont Violette is a hill about 10 km southwest of the town of Desvres, whereas Le-Bois-Julien is actually 3.5 km to the southeast of Desvres. Knickebein station Kn-6 was located 10 km west of Be-3, at Bois-de-la-Motte.

There were several Luftwaffe airfields in the region, with fighter squadrons, e.g.:

Desvres, 3.5 km to the northwest
St. Omer, 33 km to the east-northeast
Wissant, 30 km to the northwest
Calais (multiple), 35 km to the north
Abbeville, 60 km to the south

The street that now leads to the Bernhard site is erroneously called "Impasse du radar", that is: "radar alley"...

The British discovered this station mid-April of 1942: aerial photos showed the ring, the cabin across the ring, and the monitoring antenna mast at an estimated 600 yards [550 m]. Photos of mid-June 1942 showed addition of the upper antenna array. Ref. 172A. In RAF aerial photos of June 1942, the station comprised the ring-with-turntable with an (incorrectly) estimated diameter of 98 ft [30 m, instead of 21.5 m = 71 ft], two underground shelters, and a group of huts. The largest huts measured an estimated 175x70 ft [53x21] and 70x63 ft [21x19 m]. An underground cable ran 700 yards [640 m] eastward to a small transformer house, and from there to local power-grid along a north-south road 1.7 km east of the station. In photos of mid-November 1942, small additions were noted, as well as trench. Ref. 174D-174F, 252A.

The French resistance explicitly reported in 1943 that this station rotated not twice, but only once per minute (p. 62 in ref. 91). A British 10 cm [ = 300 MHz] radar station at Fairlight (on the East Sussex coast, east of Hastings, 87 km [54 miles] northwest of Le-Bois-Julien) also concluded that the station appeared to rotate once a minute (ref. 173B). Likewise, extensive radar measurements early-June 1944 also concluded on a rotation period of 52-60 sec (ref. 173A). However, all official German documents clearly state that the system rotated twice per minute (e.g., ref. 15 (section 4), 181, 183; also see the system speed section). Moreover, the printers were not compatible with antenna rotational speeds that deviated more than a couple of percent from the nominal speed.

The dismantling of Be-3 was ordered on 22 June 1944 (ref. 179).

Fig. 44: Aerial photo of the Le-Bois-Julien site (3 November 1943)

(source: US government = no copyright; severe perspective distortion corrected by me)

Fig. 45: June-1941 aerial photo and part of resulting site layout made by British War Ministry Central Interpretation Unit (C.I.U.)

(source: adapted from ref. 252B)

Fig. 46A: RAF overhead aerial photo of the Le-Bois-Julien site (20 June 1942)

(source: adapted from ref. 174F)

Fig. 46B: RAF overhead aerial photo of the Le-Bois-Julien site (10 November 1942)

(source: adapted from ref. 174D; original image rotated to "north up")

Fig. 47: Aerial photo of the Le-Bois-Julien site (5 October 1947)

(source: adapted from geoportal.gouv.fr; full-size photo C2104-0061_1947_F2104-2304_0087, 9 MB)

Fig. 48: Satellite image of the Le-Bois-Julien site (ca. 2011)

Fig. 49: The round building at the center of the concrete ring

(photo ©2006 T. Oliviers, used with permission)

Fig. 50: Ceiling of the round building - the mounting brackets have found a new purpose in life!

(photo ©2006 T. Oliviers, used with permission)

Since the two photos above were taken, the door has been replaced. Also, a mast has been installed on the round hut at the center of the ring. The cantilever boom at the bottom of the mast extends beyond the concrete ring.

Fig. 51: Entrance to the round central structure

(photo ©2009 H. Adriaanse bunkersite.com; used with permission)

Fig. 52: A side-view of the round building

Fig. 53: The back side of the round building

The inside rail of the circular track is slightly raised. Two out of every three rail ties has bolts for a rail-chair (clamp) on the inside rail. Every third tie has a rail-support block without bolts.

Fig. 54: The rail ties are embedded in the top of the concrete ring - the inside rail is raised with blocks

Fig. 55: The rail ties (I-beams) are embedded in the top of the concrete ring - the inside rail (top) is slightly raised

Fig. 56: Some of the rail-chairs are still present - here on the inside rail of the track

REFERENCES

Ref. 15: "Beschreibung und Betriebsvorschrift für Funk-Navigationsanlage FuG 120" ["Description and Operating Instructions for Radio-Navigation System FuG 120" = "Bernhardine"], Telefunken Gesell. für drahtlose Telegraphie m.b.H., document FN-T-GB Nr. 1932, December 1944, 43 pp. [File size: 66 MB - a good-but-lower resoluton file is here 26 MB]
Ref. 15A: higher quality version of pp. 16-20 (equipment photos); source: corporate archives of DTM Berlin, file nr. I.2.060C-00666.
Ref. 91: pp. 60-69 in "Mémoires sans concessions", Yves Rocard, Grasset, 1988, 302 pp., ISBN-10: 2246411211
Ref. 172: copy of item in file AIR 29/284 "Central Interpretation Unit (CIU) Medmenham; Interpretation reports and aerial photos (1943)". Item is in the collection of The National Archives; material with UK Crown Copyright, used in accordance with the Open Government License [pdf].
Summary of the contents of ref. 172A.
Ref. 172A: "German “Windjammer” R.D.F. Stations", part of "Monthly interpretation review for July 1943", 7 pp.
Ref. 173: copy of items in file AIR 14/3577 "Signals investigation on 27 to 35 Mc/s "Windjammer" (1943/1944)". Items are in the collection of The National Archives; material with UK Crown Copyright, used in accordance with the Open Government License [pdf].
Summary of the contents of ref. 173A-173E.
Ref. 173A: "'Windjammer" observation", by R.A. Fareday (Noise Investigation Bureau [Electronic Intelligence], N.I.B., London), dated 20^th June 1944, 1 page.
Ref. 173B: ""Possible "Windjammer" transmissions", report by Flight Lieutenant Douglas of 192 Sq., dated 16^th December 1943, 1 page.
Ref. 173C: "192 Squadron Flight report No. 215/43" by F/Lt Robinson to Squadron Leader Burtler, dated 15^th November 1943 (actual report by P/O G.F. Evans of 13^th November 1943), 6 pages.
Ref. 173D: "Windjammer – Arcachon", letter from Air Ministry A.I.4. [intelligence branch section supervising RAF Y Service] to Commanding Officer of 192 Squadron, dated 16^th July 1943, 1 page + 1 aerial photo.
Ref. 173E: "The Windjammer and Dreh-Elektra", by 192 Squadron Leader J. Whitehead, dated 18^th June 1943, 1 page.
Ref. 174: copy of items in file AIR 14/3594 ""Windjammer" station: photographs and interpretation reports. Includes vertical and low oblique aerial photographs of 'Windjammer' radar sites in Germany and France (1943/1944)". Items are in the collection of The National Archives; material with UK Crown Copyright, used in accordance with the Open Government License [pdf].
Summary of the contents of ref. 174A-174J.
Ref. 174A: Letter entitled "W/T Bergen/Belvedere" by Squadron Leader C.W. Swanell on behalf of the Group Captain commanding R.A.F. Station Medmenham to R.V. Jones (A.D.I. Science), dated 9^th April 1943, 1 page + 1 photo
Ref. 174B: Aerial photo of station "Bergen/Belvedere" [The Netherlands], photo No. 3022, taken 22^rd March 1943 by 541 Squadron
Ref. 174C: Letter entitled "W/T – Bergen/Belvedere" by Group Captain commanding R.A.F. Station Medmenham to R.V. Jones (A.D.I. Science), dated 9^th April 1943, 1 page. (note: photos referenced in letter not on file)
Ref. 174D: Letter entitled "W/T Desvres/Le Bois Julien" on behalf of Group Captain commanding R.A.F. Station Medmenham to R.V. Jones (A.D.I. Science), dated 15^th November 1942, 1 page + 2 photos.
Ref. 174E: Letter entitled "W/T: Desvres/Le Bois Julien" on behalf of Group Captain commanding R.A.F. Station Medmenham to R.V. Jones (A.D.I. Science), dated 29^th March 1943, 1 page + 1 photo.
Ref. 174F: "Interpretation Report No. G. 308" dated 28^th June 1942, of aerial photos taken over Desvres/Le-Bois-Julien at altitude of 20k ft during Sortie A/945 on 20^th June 1942, 1 page + 1 photo.
Ref. 174G: "Interpretation report No. G.590" dated 6^th October 1942, of aerial photo taken over locality Morlaix, W/T station Mt. St. Michel, at altitude of 12k ft during Sortie Q/21 on 24^th September 1942, 2 pages + 1 photo.
Ref. 174H: Letter entitled "W/T: Pouzauges/St.Michel-Mont-Mercure" on behalf of Group Captain commanding R.A.F. Station Medmenham to Squadron Leader Whitehead (A.I.4), dated 29^th March 1943, 1 page + 3 photos.
Ref. 174J: Photos No. 4065 and 4066 of station at St. Vaast / La Pernelle, taken 31^st March 1943 from off shore. [station is fully, though vaguely, visible on horizon]
Ref. 179: "Votragsnotiz", draft presenter notes addressed to the General-Nachrichtenführer (Gen-Nafü), 3 September 1944, 3 pp. Source: Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv (BArch-MA, BAMA) Freiburg/Germany, (Signatur) file nr. RL 2-V/6, used in accordance with "Erstinformation für Ihren Besuch im Bundesarchiv in Freiburg, Stand Juni 2016".
Covers original plans for geographic coverage (France, German Reich) with Bernhard stations, state of completion of the various Be-stations, status of introduction of the Bernhard/Bernhardine method for night-fighters (Nachtjagd).
Ref. 181: "Drehfunkfeuer System Telefunken - Teil 1: Verfahrensbeschreibung EC1-4262" [Telefunken rotating radio beacon, part 1: description of the method], Adalbert Lohmann, Berlin, October 1942, 129 pp., copy nr. 29, personal copy of Albrecht Leyn [note: this document was never printed, other than a very limited number of personal copies, individually approved by Dept. LC-4 (Technisches Amt) of the RLM; ref. 183]; source: corporate archives of DTM Berlin, part of file nr. I.2.060C-06172 [file size: 62 MB]
Ref. 183: "Das Drehfunkfeuer-Verfahren Bernhard und Bernhardine, System Telefunken" ["Verfahrensbeschreibung Bernhard, Bernhardine", description of the Bernhard-Bernhardine method], Adalbert Lohmann, Telefunken Gesellschaft für drahtlose Telegraphie m.b.H., Berlin-Zehlendorf, Telefunken document EC 1 4310, July 1943, 28 pp., copy nr. 11; source: corporate archives of DTM Berlin, file nr. I.2.060C-04403.
Ref. 252: "Rhubarb operations: Appendix V - German navigational beam stations. France, Holland and Belgium" [file size: 108 MB], AIR 40/1661, 142 pp., 1942 (with amendments made in 1942 and 1943), Air Ministry, Directorate of Intelligence and related bodies: Intelligence Reports and Papers, Deputy Director of Air Tactics. Document pages are not numbered. Item is in the collection of The National Archives; material with UK Crown Copyright, used in accordance with the Open Government License [pdf].
Ref. 252A: "Introduction", 10 pp. A "Rhubarb" was a routine tactical operation, in which a small number of RAF aircraft flew at low-level into France or Belgium, to strafe ground targets.This particular document covers German beam stations (Knickebein, Y, X, and "Knickebeins of a new type" = Bernhard) along the Atlantic coast of France and North Sea coast of The Netherlands. Map coordinates are provided for all targets.
Ref. 252B: "Desvres/Le Bois-Julien (Target V/18)" [ = "Bernhard" Be-3], 4 pp. (including 2 photos and 1 site/area layout map; pp. 108-111 in the complete document). Observations: circular concrete base appr. 100 ft in diameter. Hut at the center of the array. Mast some 50 ft high at 600 yards to northwest of the installation, connected by underground cable. Photos from recce sorties in March and June of 1941.
Ref. 252C: "Sizun/St Michel (Target V/24)" [ = "Bernhard" Be-2 at Mt.-St.-Michel-de-Brasparts], 3 pp. (including 1 photo and 1 site/area layout map; pp. 134-135 in the complete document). Photo from September 1942 recce sortie. Observations: circular concrete base appr. 100 ft in diameter. Hut at the center of the array. Cable trench of ca. 950 ft in westerly direction, to short mast.
Ref. 252D: "St. Vaast/La Pennelle (Target V/26)" [ = "Bernhard" Be-4], 4 pp. (including 2 photos and 1 site/area layout map; pp. 139-142 in the complete document). Observations: circular concrete base appr. 100 ft in diameter. Hut at the center of the array. Photos from recce sorties in April and September of 1942. Note: "La Pernelle" is misspelled as "La Pennelle".
Ref. 252E: "Commana (Target V/1)" [ = "Y" station ?], 4 pp. Recce sortie in July of 1941.
Ref. 252F: "La Feuillée (Target V/2)" [ = "Y" station Y8 "Friedrich"], 6 pp. Recce sortie in September of 1941.
Ref. 252G: "Lanmeur (Target V/3)" [ = "Knickebein" station K-11], 8 pp. Recce sorties in July 1940, January & September of 1941, July of 1942.
Ref. 252H: "Laye (Target V/4)" [ = "X" station X-#], 5 pp. Recce sorties in November of 1940 and September of 1941.
Ref. 252J: "Beaumont-Hague (Target V/5A)" [ = "Knickebein" station K-9], 6 pp. Recce sorties in October of 1940, March & September of 1941.
Ref. 252K: "Jobourg (Target V/5B)" [ = "Y" station Y7 "Anton"], 9 pp. Recce sorties in October of 1941, March & September of 1941, February, April, and September of 1942.
Ref. 252L: "Sortosville-en-Baumont (Target V/6)" [ = "Knickebein" station K-10], 6 pp. Recce sortie in April of 1942.
Ref. 252M: "Mt. Pincon (Target V/7)" [ = "Knickebein" station K-8], 4 pp. Recce sortie in June of 1941.
Ref. 252N: "Greny (Target V/8)" [ = "Knickebein" station K-7], 5 pp. Recce sorties in June & October of 1941.
Ref. 252P: "Mt. Violette (Target V/9)" [ = "Knickebein" station K-6], 5 pp. Recce sorties in June of 1941.
Ref. 252Q: "Mt. de la Louve (Target V/10)" [ = "X" station X-#], 8 pp. Recce sorties in May & November of 1941, August & October of 1942
Ref. 252R: "Cassel/La Croix Rouge (Target V/12)" [ = "Y" station Y2 "Berta"], 7 pp. Recce sorties in February of 1941, April & July of 1942.
Ref. 252S: "Bergen op Zoom (Target V/13)" [ = "Knickebein" station K-5], 5 pp. Recce sorties in September & October of 1941.
Ref. 252T: "Julianadorp (Target V/14)" [ = "Knickebein" station K-3], 4 pp. Recce sortie in March of 1941.
Ref. 252U: "Bayeux/Le Mesnil (Target V/15)" [ = "Elektra" station 3], 4 pp. Recce sorties in April & June of 1942.
Ref. 252V: "St. Valery-en Caux/St. Martin-aux-Bunaux (Target V/16)" [ = "Y" station Y4 "Dora"], 5 pp. Recce sorties in June of 1942.
Ref. 252W: "St. Valery-en Caux/Conteville de Palleul (Target V/17)" [ = "Y" station Y3 "Cicero"], 5 pp. Recce sorties in October 1940, May & July of 1942.
Ref. 252X: "Boulogne/Boursin (Target V/19)" [ = "Y" station Y6 "Gustav"], 4 pp. Recce sorties in April & July of 1942.
Ref. 252Y: "Petten/Groet (Target V/20)" [ = "Elektra" station E-#] Sonne-5, between Petten and Groet (just north of Groet), Dutch coast., 4 pp. Recce sorties in July of 1941, June of 1942.
Ref. 252Z: "Baumont / Hauge Town (Target V/21)", Y-type beam station, per Fig. in the Introduction.
Ref. 252AA: "St.-Pierre-Église / Dargougerie (Target V/22)" [ = "Erika" station Er-2], 4 pp. Recce sorties in June of 1940, and April of 1942.
Ref. 252AB: "Morlaix/Plougourvest (Target V/25)" [= "Elektra" station 4], 3 pp. Recce sortie in September of 1942.

External links last checked: January 2019