V1 Flying Bomb Bunker
or
Wasserwerk 1 St.-Pol
(Updated August 26, 2003)
This bunker has been build early 1943 as a
giant launch shelter and site for V1 flying bombs.
Since its discovery, the site has been bombed
by 'Tallboys' which caused a local earthquake.
On one place the bunker was hit and was only
slightly damaged. But the site had to abandonded by
the Germans before one V1 was launched.
Later on the bunker was filled with sand when
it was taken by the allies for examinations.
In that way it could not be used again for
hostile actions.
Today the bunker can be visited again and you
can enter the bunker which is still largely filled with sand. It
is extremely humid and I had to clean my photographic equipement constantly.
Also two tunnels have been dugged out in the sand but I cannot encourage
anyone to enter these because they are very dangerous.
The bunker is also used to give shelter to
cows, so once you are in there will be no way out if the cows are there
unless you are prepared to play games with them !
Drawing of Siracourt Bunker.
The Germans called it Wasserwerk 1 or Wasserwerk St.-Pol.
The V1 ramp can be seen in the
front. There was another railway entrance next to it.
