Airfield Bombing Decoy Q41a |
| Hob Uid: 1464894 | |
Location :
Hertfordshire
Hertsmere
South Mimms
|
| Grid Ref : TQ2340098000 |
| Summary : A Second World War bombing decoy at Barnet that was built to deflect enemy bombing from Royal Air Force Northolt airfield. This was both a 'K-type' day decoy and a 'Q-type' night decoy. The 'K-type' decoy consisted of a replica airfield equipped with dummy Hurricane aircraft. It is referenced as being in use from March 1940 until its closure on 31st October 1941, when it was shut down as it had become an unconvincing decoy. The 'Q-type' decoy displayed a sequence of lights, which when seen at night resembled an active airfield. This decoy is referenced as being in operation from June 1940 to August 1941. At least one source suggests that by the 1970s no features of the site survived. However in 2011 reports from members of the public indicated that two structures, one sunken and one on the surface of the site still survive. By 2011, the use of the areas of the former site includes a golf course and a wildlife/communal garden and allottments. The surviving structures are situated in the latter area. |
More information : A Second World War 'Q-type' and 'K-type' bombing decoy located at Barnet (TQ 234 980). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from RAF Northolt. The 'Q-type' decoy is referenced as being in use from 19-JUN-1940 to 01-AUG-1941, and the 'K-type' from 13-MAR-1940 until its closure on 27-JUN-1941. (1)
By 1971 the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive (See below- this information may have been superseded by more recent reporting of extant features) . (2)
NGR concords with that given in source 1. The decoy site at Barnet is also mentioned as being a 'QF' site, but no further details are given and it is not mentioned in any other sources. The 'K-type' decoy was equipped with dummy Hurricane aircraft. It was closed down in JUN-1941 as it had become an unconvincing decoy. (3)
In 2011, a member of the public reported that part of a bunker and some of the underground elements of the decoy survived. They indicated that part of the site was in use a wildlife/communal garden. (4)
On modern Ordnance Survey mapping the surroundings of the former decoy are indicated as being a golf course and Allotment gardens. A little over 400 metres to the east of the point given in source 1 as the nominal location of the decoy is the registerd battlefield of the Battle of Barnet. (5)
Source: description by a member of the public and unarchived digital photographs supplied by them. In 2011 there was a further report of at least 2 structures surviving at the garden of Brookdale Wildlife Garden Community. One surviving "bunker" is a surface feature, the other semi-sunken. The surface building is constructed of rendered brick with a thick, flat, concrete roof. There appears to be a protected entrance to one longer side, and the roof appears to feature an inspection hatch. (6) |