The following images are taken from the Historic England archive that released them for public viewing in 2022.
An explanation of the key features on each photograph is added beneath.
North is to the top in this view. An interesting aerial view of Stokes Bay taken by the RAF in April 1946. One of the newly released aerial photographs in the Historic England collection. To the left of centre is No.2 Battery, now the Diving Museum. The white tank parks right of it became the mobile home park. Above that is Fort Gomer, now demolished. Further north along Military Road is Fort Rowner, another one of the five Gosport Advanced Line forts. To the left end of the coast is Browndown Battery. Bay House can also be seen among the trees to the east of No.2 Battery. The river Alver can be seen flowing along its concrete canal into the outfall by the small spit of land next to No2 Battery. Western Way is newly concreted as an embarkation park for the D Day vehicles, as is Jellicoe Avenue. The Stokes Bay Moat is still full of water running west to east. To the east (right) on the coast is the old Bathing Station. The whole of Stanley Park can be seen with the little bridge over the moat leading from the sea wall into it. Palmerston Way is visible with houses along the seaward side. The remains of the Phoenix Construction site close to D Day Embarkation Hard G3 with its three dolphins in the sea can clearly be seen. Huge amounts of concrete everywhere.
South is to the top in this view. This RAF view of 1948 shows the Phoenix Constructions Site No1, Gilkicker AA Gun Site, the Royal Engineers School of Electric Lighting, Stokes Bay Pier and Fort Gilkicker. To the upper left is Fort Monckton. The Stokes Bay Paddling pond can be seen with its concrete paths, part of which can still be seen today. Close to the old Bathing Station the three mooring dolphins of Embarkation Hard G3 are also visible. The Victorian Stokes Bay Moat is also prominent running from right to left. The Gilkicker Anti Aircraft gun site is close to the pier, with No.4 Battery near to it and No.5 battery further to the left along Fort Road.
East is to the top in this photograph. This view of 1946 shows the size of the Phoenix Construction Site 2 at Stokes Bay next to the D Day Command Centre and the Bathing Station. A damaged Phoenix caisson can be seen moored next to the launchways. What a massive site it was. The paddling pond is still there with its concrete paths. Note the large collection of concrete slabs piled on the area near to the paddling pond. Concrete slabs were used to construct the causeway that is there now, running from Anglesey Road to the promenade. Towards the top can be seen Gilkicker Anti Aircraft Gun Site.
South is to the top in this photograph. A 1954 Aerial view over Stokes Bay. Another RAF photograph from the newly released Historic England collection. The newly constructed causeway from Anglesey Road to the promenade can be seen. It was constructed over huge lumps of concrete that were gathered from the adjoining area during the post war clean-up. Sections of the Victorian 1860 Stokes Bay Moat can also be seen running west to east. Note the section of moat running west from No.2 Battery has yet to be filled. Also the paddling pond with its concrete paths and the Bathing Station. Lots to see. Fort Gomer and Fort Grange are in view. No.2 Battery next to the River Alver outfall is to the right top. Adjacent to it is Browndown Ranges.
South is to the top in this photograph. Yet another aerial view from the Historic England Collection. This time 1966. The Paddling Pond has gone but there are other features to see. Stokes Bay Pier and the Bathing Station are still there as is the last surviving section of the Stokes Bay Moat near to Palmerston Way. Fort Gomer has been demolished and building work has begun on the new Gomer housing estate.
You can view more photographs by visiting the Historic England Archive on line here: