Airfield Bombing Decoy Q9b |
| Hob Uid: 1463920 | |
Location :
North Yorkshire
Hambleton
Danby Wiske with Lazenby
|
| Grid Ref : NZ3180000300 |
| Summary : A Second World War bombing decoy site located at Birkby. It was built to deflect enemy bombing from Royal Air Force Catterick airfield and later for Royal Air Force Scorton airfield. This was a 'Q-type' night decoy, which displayed a series of lights to simulate an active airfield. This site was thought to be in use by 1942. It turned to agricultural usage by the 1970s. It is thought that all features of the decoy have been removed. There is a further decoy site for Catterick located at Low Moor. |
More information : A 'Q-type' bombing decoy located at Birkby (NZ 318 003). This site was intended to deflect enemy bombing from RAF Catterick. Referenced as being in use by 12-AUG-1942. Possibly later the site at Birkby became a decoy site for RAF Scorton. A further possible earlier decoy site for Catterick was located at Low Moor (SE 393 984). (1)
Source gives evidence that all features of the decoy site has since been removed and that by the 1970s the site has been given over to agricultural usage. (2)
An additional reference: the NGR given in this source concords with that given in source 1 and 2. (3)
A local history website suggests that during the Second World War this decoy did not feature any buildings or dummy aircraft. (4)
There is an aerial photograph of the site also noted in source 2. (5) |