Ashley Walk Bombing Range​

​​The land around Ashley Walk was acquired under compulsory acquisition in February 1940, and by August it was ready for use as a testing range. The land area is equivalent to 2,833 football pitches.

​The range consisted of numerous different types of targets that allowed aircrews from the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) to practise. These aircrews came from RAF Boscombe Down, which was not far from Salisbury. ​Aircrews practiced ground attack runs in several environments, including mock ships, emplacements, and bomb fragmentation areas. Due to the surrounding heathland, no incendiary bombs were used because of the fire hazard. Archive footage of Ashley Walk showing the testing of bombs, including a bouncing bomb, is still available.

​Today, the remains of some features are still visible by exploring the area around Ashley Walk: from large bomb craters around the bomb target, to the pathways that were once the rings around this bullseye area, bomb observations shelters, and the illuminated target arrow.

​Numerous public paths lead across the heathland that, during the Second World War, was a hive of activity until it eventually closed in 1946. The range was fully cleared in 1948, but many features such as the concrete illuminated target arrow and the various chalk marks are still visible today.

​Further information, details, and a map layout of Ashley Walk can be found here: https://nfknowledge.org/contributions/ashley-walk-bombing-range-1940-46-overview/#map=10/-1.71/50.93/0/24:0:0.6|39:1:1|40:1:1