Google Earth

[shanlea]

Anyone know what the crosses are a couple of miles along the coast East of Thurso?

17046

[pat]

could it have anything to do with defence/air fields from WW11?

How about asking at the houses nearby - someone will probably know what the marks are from and what era too.

[Shaggy]

the circles next to the crosses were where the military comms receivers were sited but its not clear in the docs i've read whether the crosses also formed part of the kit or were an experimental approach to the radar/comms equipment. If you want to know more then its possible Nick (nick@virhistory.com) knows more as he has a website documenting a lot of the US military's comms sites (http://www.navy-radio.com/)

[Bobinovich]

Although I can't remember what was actually there, the site was the former US Naval Communications Station (US NavComSta) at West Murkle

[sids]

Foundations for masts and their guy cables?

[George Brims]

Although I can't remember what was actually there, the site was the former US Naval Communications Station (US NavComSta) at West Murkle
There was a US Navy Comms base at Crosskirk, WEST of Thurso, adjacent to Dounreay. I don't recall there being anything at Murkle. Was that an earlier version?

[Rheghead]

I think oldmarine may be able to tell us.

[Torvaig]

Foundations for masts and their guy cables?

There were various listening stations situated in Caithness; Bower was still in operational mode into the (c) 70's with masts above Murza farm and a station roughly where Norscot manufacturing buildings are now. The Murkle station was in use in the same era.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=gchq murkle&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CDwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.informationclearinghouse.info %2Farticle4463.htm&ei=EqbVUKvOCPSW0QXgt4C4Dw&usg=AFQjCNHHEbyRNaDUeWqYVaM--iKmrl3eJQ

[Torvaig]

http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php is an interesting site....

I will stop now; they are coming to take me away! ;)

[richardj]

Torvaig - thanks for the link to Secret Scotland http://www.secretscotland.org.uk it is the first I had heard of it and it does contain lots of interesting information.

[Torvaig]

You are right Rheghead; let's hope he logs into the org., and sees this thread.

[gleeber]

Both stations were built at the same time. I worked on them both. One was a reciever and the other a sender. Dont ask me which was which but the one at Forss had a 620 feet high mast and I worked on the building of the radio station directly below the big mast. That was in springtime 1963.

[gleeber]

I remember one day after the radio station was built I was sent to work with the plasterer. We were inside what was the most heavily reinforced building ive ever built, and ive built a few, and there was clatter on the roof. One of the American steel erectors fell about 20 feet about 500 hundred up the mast and the clatter on the roof was some steel beams falling down. A local man climbed up the mast and took the fellow down on his back. Unfortunately he died later in hospital.

[gleeber]

During the building of the radio station the American contractor was a bit concerned at how slow we worked. I was only an apprentice so the politics were lost on me but I remember the contractor offered the masons an extra bonus per day in cash for a little more work please if you dont mind. I didnt notice any appreciable change even after the bonuses were paid on a dail basis and Mr Swagger still wasnt very happy so the inevitable confrontation took place. It was funny and i heard words I have never heard before. Mr Swagger tried to get some other brickies in to help finish the job and when they turned up on site and discovered we were already there they didnt hang around too long.
After further politics were explored in the tea hut I remember my daily bonus was more than my weekly wage packet.:lol:

[shanlea]

Thanks for the replies guys

[sam09]

shanlea. Are these situated at Brims?

[sam09]

Silly me, East of Thursa.