Slit trenches, gun emplacements and weapons pits of Second World War date were visible as earthworks and structures in RAF/HLA/407 V 77 28-FEB-1942. These features formed the northern part of defences covering the south-west corner of RAF Manston's former grass outfield. It is possible that some pre-dated the start of the Second World War.

They include lengths of communication trench linking a gun emplacement to the south with weapons pits to the north. Additional weapons pits stand to the east side of the communication trench.

Connections with parts of the system to the south had already been lost by the time this aerial photograph was taken in 1942. The features pre-dated the 1943-44 development of RAF Manston's crash runway.

The features were recorded as levelled earthworks in Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 07-APR-2021 and were mapped as part of the Historic England Isle of Thanet project in 2024. (1-2)

<1> Historic England Archive, 1941-1960, Historic England Archive RAF vertical aerial photographs, RAF/HLA/407 V 77 28-FEB-1942 (Archive). SKE57101.

<2> Next Perspectives, 2003-2021, Next Perspectives APGB orthophotography, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 07-APR-2021 (Archive). SKE57110.