Naval Bombing Decoy N12/lo1 |
| Hob Uid: 1459697 | |
Location :
Medway
Stoke
|
| Grid Ref : TQ8172476203 |
| Summary : A Second World War bombing decoy located in Stoke. It was built as part of the 'N-series' of naval decoys to deflect enemy bombing from Royal Navy installations at Chatham. This was a 'QF' decoy, which consisted of a series of controlled fires lit during an air raid to replicate a target struck by bombs. It is referenced as being in use during 1941. Aerial photography shows that the control building, which would have housed an operations room and provided the decoy crew with shelter, was probably located at TQ 816 764. A second bombing decoy for Chatham was located in Stoke at TQ 822 760. The earthwork remains of this QF bombing decoy was mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape project. |
More information : A Second World War 'QF' bombing decoy located at Stoke (TQ 816 761). It was constructed as part of the 'N-series' of naval decoys to deflect enemy bombing from Royal Navy installations at Chatham. It is referenced as being active on 01-AUG-1941.
Further naval bombing decoys for Chatham were located at Harty Ferry (TR 013 657), Nore Marsh (TQ 812 702), Cleve Marshes (TR 047 645), Binney Farm (TQ 851 772) and a second site in Stoke (TQ 822 760). (1)
Aerial photography from 1978 shows that a control building probably stood on the site at TQ 816 764. (2)
NGR concords with that given in source 1. (3)
The earthwork remains of the Second World War QF bombing decoy described by the previous authority was seen as at TQ8173 7620 mid-way between Lower Stoke and St Mary Hoo occupying a triangular fenced off site in the corner of a field. It appeared as a group of irregular sub-circular embanked and ditched enclosures with at least four associated buildings (also described above). The enclosures contained oil ponds which were lit to simulate burning bomb targets. Most of the location of the decoy appears to have been destroyed by the excavation of a small agricultural reservoir. The decoy was mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape project. (4)
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