Background

This is the second UKBOTA Airfield Bunkers event. The 2024 event was run to coincide with the 80th Anniversary of the International Bomber Command Centre. More information on the IBCC is here.

Your Mission

Aim

To activate and hunt WWII and Cold War airfields bunkers as listed in the event bunker list.

When

The event runs from 1st – 31 August 2025 inclusive.

Note

Where not indicated differently below, general UKBOTA rules and guidelines apply (see menu on the top of this web page).

Valid Airfield Bunkers

Bunkers

The list of ‘valid airfield bunkers’ is a subset of the full UKBOTA reference list. A list of valid bunkers will be published no later than mid July 2025.

Note

This list includes a number of ‘none flying’ Royal Air Force air stations and headquarters bunkers, eg. RAF Bentley Priory bunker B/G-1052 (ROC HQ bunker, and also former HQ Fighter Command).

Participation

Activators

All activations must take place from UKBOTA valid airfield bunker references (see above). Therefore, all activators will be in the United Kingdom*.

* for the purposes of this event United Kingdom includes the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey) in addition to the nations of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales).

Hunters and SWL

Hunters and Shortwave Listeners may participate from anywhere in the World. QSO with bunkers outside the UK will count as a valid QSO but not a B2B QSO for this event.

Other Awards

QSO which meet the requirements for other awards, both UKBOTA and across WWBOTA, are also valid for those awards.

Activators

Disclaimer

By activating in this event you agree to the disclaimer at the bottom of this page.

Activator's HF Scoring

HF Scoring

2 points for each bunker activated (25 QSO for a valid activation) from the list of valid airfield bunkers. 

HF Bonuses

For valid activations:

1 additional point per 50 QSO, up to a maximum of 3 additional points.
1 additional point for 5 or more UKBOTA valid airfield bunker to valid airfield bunker (B2B) QSO

The highest possible HF score for each bunker is, therefore, 6 points. 

Total HF points available for each bunker, with including bonuses:

25-49 QSO = 2 points
50-99 QSO = 3 points
100-149 QSO = 4 points
150+ QSO = 5 points
(with 5 UKBOTA Airfield B2B QSO) = 6 points

HF Information

Activators may return to a bunker within the month in order to gain more QSO (the maximum scoring HF QSO is 150 for each bunker). The same station may be worked for additional QSO, but only on different days.

There are no additional scoring QSO for working the same station on a different band, or mode, on the same day.

For this event multiple bunkers may not be worked in the same activation. Where a cluster of overlapping bunker activations exist (eg. a 3 fer) then each bunker must be activated as a separate activation. There must be a minimum of 10 minutes gap between each activation.

HF Awards

HF Activator awards will be awarded in the following tiers:

Bronze = 5 Points
Silver = 25 Points
Gold = 50 Points
Diamond = 100 Points
Master = 200 Points or more

Activator's VHF Scoring

VHF Scoring

2 points for each bunker activated (10 QSO for a valid activation) from the list of valid airfield bunkers. 

VHF Bonuses

For valid activations:

1 additional point per 10 QSO, from 20, up to a maximum of 4 additional points.
1 additional point for 5 or more UKBOTA valid airfield bunker to valid airfield bunker (B2B) QSO

The highest possible VHF score for each bunker is, therefore, 6 points. 

Total VHF points available for each bunker, with including bonuses:

10-19 QSO = 2 points
20-29 QSO = 3 points
30-39 QSO = 4 points
40+ QSO = 5 points
(with 5 UKBOTA Airfield B2B QSO) = 6 points

VHF Information

Activators may return to a bunker within the month in order to gain more QSO (the maximum scoring VHF QSO is 40). The same station may be worked as an additional scoring QSO, but only on different days.

There are no additional scoring QSO for working the same station on a different band, or mode, on the same day.

For this event multiple bunkers may not be worked in the same activation. Where a cluster of overlapping bunker activations exist (eg. a 3 fer) then each bunker must be activated as a separate activation. There must be a minimum of 10 minutes gap between each activation.

VHF Awards

VHF Activator awards will be awarded in the following tiers:

Bronze = 5 Points
Silver = 10 Points
Gold = 20 Points
Diamond = 40 Points
Master = 60 Points or more

Note: The same bunker may be activated, by the same activator, on both HF and VHF.

Hunters and Listeners

Hunter and SWL Scoring

1 point for each valid airfield bunker worked.

Hunter and SWL Bonuses

For the event the same bunker may be worked on different days for an additional point each day it is worked.

Hunter and SWL Information

There are no additional points for working the same bunker on a different band or mode on the same day.

Multi Bunker Activations

Multiple bunker activations are not valid for this event, the hunter may only claim one 1 point per activation worked.

Hunter and SWL Awards

Hunter awards will be awarded in the following tiers:

Bronze = 10 Points
Silver = 50 Points
Gold = 100 Points
Diamond = 150 Points
Master = 300 Points or more

QSO Tracking

No official QSO tracker will be produced for this event.

Awards Claims

All award claims should be sent by email to awards@ukbota.org

Logs are not required, simply calculate your score and the award you have earned and message the awards manager by email. Awards are issued on trust!

Disclaimer

UKBOTA accept no responsibility or liability for issues arising from an activation, or any other activity related to the programme or event.

Safety

Publication of a bunker on the ‘valid’ list does not imply the bunker, or the surrounding area, is safe to activate from. All activators should conduct their own safety and risk assessment and never ‘go underground’ without taking appropriate precautions and without appropriate permission.

Right of Access

Publication of a bunker on the ‘valid’ list does not imply a right of access. Where an activator wishes to operate, or gain access to private land, permission should be sought from the appropriate landowner or their agent. Activators are advised to exercise caution around areas of restricted access.

(C) UKBOTA 2025

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