Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Airfield Bombing Decoy Q61a
Hob Uid: 1414737
Location : Cornwall St. Issey
Grid Ref : SW9245068800
Summary : A Second World War bombing decoy at Trelow Down that was built to deflect enemy bombing from Royal Air Force St Eval airfield. This was a 'Q-type' night decoy, which displayed a series of lights simulating an active airfield. It opened in 1940 and is referenced as being in use up until August 1942. An uncovered control building with its blast wall survives on the site in reasonable condition. Further bombing decoy sites for Royal Air Force St Eval were located at Tregonetha Down and Colan.
More information : BOMBING DECOY SITE. SRF, with 13 photographs. For St Eval airfield. Q site. Trelow Downs. Control bunker and generator. Recorder- A. Harvey. (1) A Second World War 'Q-type' bombing decoy located at Trelow Down (SW 924 683). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from RAF St Eval. It is referenced as being in use between 01-AUG-1941 and 12-AUG-1942. Further bombing decoy sites were located at Tregonetha Down (SW 958 631) and Colan (SW 872 585). (2) Aerial photography from 1971 shows an uncovered control building surviving on the site, with blast walls at its north-west entrance. It is reported to be in reasonable condition. (3) NGR concords with that given in source 2. (4) Aerial photograph showing the survival of a control building on the Trelow Down decoy site. (5) A former airman who manned the decoy recalls that the site opened in 1940. The lights of the dummy flarepath were lit by matches, not powered by electricity like the later 'Q-type' decoys. (6)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : The two databases developed by the Project can be searched on-line through the Archaeology Data Service at http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/specColl/dob/index.cfm
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 94,105
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 98
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 248
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details : MAL/71131/48
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 28-29
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Second World War
Display Date : Built in 1940
Monument End Date : 1945
Monument Start Date : 1940
Monument Type : Decoy Airfield, Bombing Decoy
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : DoB Non Anti Invasion Database UID
External Cross Reference Number : 4172
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SW 96 NW 53
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : MEASURED SURVEY
Start Date : 1995-04-01
End Date : 2002-03-01

Associated Activities :
Activity type : MEASURED SURVEY
Start Date : 2008-01-01
End Date : 2009-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Airfield Bombing Decoy Q61a