676 Excavation

[MNO KI]

Some months ago Festung Guernsey gained permission to excavate a buried 676 to recover any remaining items which may be of use. We knew that in the 1970's a 4.7 barrel had been recovered but the bunker was flooded and there may be some parts left behind. Yesterday morning, after a short dig, we able to get into the bunker, and to our amazement we found that besides the gun, the bunker was virtually intact and in good condition. And don't worry. We very quickly decided it would be criminal to remove anything, so we'll be looking at preserving this bunker as it is. So here's a few pics from our visit.

Regards
Paul

[MNO KI]

Some more

[MNO KI]

Some more

[MNO KI]

One more

[Projekt-Westwall]

Great Bunker, very nice pics!

Have a nice work!

BRegards
Markus

[jopaerya]

Hello Paul

Very nice details in the 676 , especilaly the HES 10 with motor for the powdersmoke .

Regards Jos

[Remco de Goede]

Wow! Looks very nice!

[AvB]

Wow that looks great. Especially the way the exhaust is placed!

[20P7]

Hello Paul,

thank you very much for sharing this nice and interesting pictures!

Daniel

[grappener]

My god, it's looking great Paul!

It has shades of Millbrook about it!

Fantastic find and I know that the FG crew will do it justice just as they have done with all the other seriously fine bits in the Island.

All the best

G.

[M19 MADMAL]

We knew that in the 1970's a 4.7 barrel had been recovered

Hi Paul,

Was the recovered 4.7 barrel the one that was outside the Guernsey Occupation Museum a while back and painted white?

It would be great if you guys had an original gun in its original position in Guernsey
At least you wouldn't have to take one of ours!

Regards,
Malcolm

[MNO KI]

Yes Malcolm, the barrel Richard recovered is now outside the museum. We are not certain why the scrap man left it behind. We have since had a meeting with the Department responsible and they have no objections to us opening the 676 permanently. We will submit some drawings shortly and hopefully should be able to get started fairly quickly.

Regards
Paul

[M19 MADMAL]

Hi Paul,

Yes Malcolm, the barrel Richard recovered is now outside the museum. We are not certain why the scrap man left it behind. We have since had a meeting with the Department responsible and they have no objections to us opening the 676 permanently. We will submit some drawings shortly and hopefully should be able to get started fairly quickly.

Regards
Paul

~I cheched out this wartime photo taken in a 676 which is on page 95 of George Forty's "Fortress Europe" (ISBN 0 7110 27692) and I am sure its the same bunker!
Chech the telephone cable above the pressure release valve, it has EXACTLY the same kink in both photos

There is a mark on the wall in the same spot on both photos between the 1st and 2nd horizantal phone clips

The pressure release valve is painted the same and the 'G' on the end of the text below it is in exactly the same place (it can be seen just next to the loaders nose)

The same damage is present (in both photos) on the right side of the pressure release valve reccess.

The range board would clinch the deal to location......what do you think?

Regards,
Malcolm

[Stp Corbiere]

I think u could be right Malcolm, the cable, the amount of clips and the text all seem to match!

Well spotted mate

cheers

kevin

[g_steer1]

Hello Gents, It most certainly is the same bunker, good spot! Fortunately we have a number of photographs of this bunker as it was photographed for the original Festung Guernsey Documents.

As for the range board it is with our friends at the underground hospital. It would be fantastic to get it back home!

Here is a photograph taken from the bay side from the Festung Guernsey documents:-

Grant