Originally Posted by
bombdoc
The turning target frames look like they are from a standard 4/5 lane 25 yard range. All airfields would have had one of these, some even had doubles built back to back...!
Fighter airfields also had aircraft test firing pits that would allow a fighter to be pushed in and the function and alignment of the guns tested. Bomber airfields did not have these as the aircraft were not fitted with co-axially mounted guns. Initially all UK fighters used .303 guns.. the theory was that having a lot of shots was more important than the effect of a single shot, and early aircraft were very weight limitied. Latterly .50 machine guns and 20mm cannon were fitted.
I cannot see that your steel plate was ever part of an official range practice. Steel plate targets are used for research and proof firings, but they are always used in a specially designed proof range that is designed to cope with ricochets... The guns are usually fired remotely from behind cover. This looks like the results of an unofficial "fun shoot" with .50 and 20mm Hispano cannon...!
It could be the steel plate from the back of a pilots seat.. this was the only armouring on a lot of RAF aircraft!