Starfish Bombing Decoy Sf3e |
| Hob Uid: 1468499 | |
Location :
Rotherham
Hellaby
|
| Grid Ref : SK5040093300 |
| Summary : A Second World War bombing decoy site at Bramley. It was commissioned in 1941 as a 'Permanent Starfish' site to deflect enemy bombing from the city of Sheffield. In 1941 a 'QL' decoy was incorporated into the site as part of the 'C-series' of civil decoys to protect Park Gate Steel works. The 'Starfish' decoy operated by lighting a series of controlled fires during an air raid to replicate an urban area targeted by bombs. The 'QL' decoy displayed lighting to simulate the loco glows, tram flashes and factory lights associated with the steel plant. The site is referenced as being in use up until 1943, but could have been used until late 1944. A survey of aerial photograph from 1991 did not show any surviving features of the decoy. Further civil bombing decoy sites for Sheffield were located at Conisbrough, Kiveton, Norton, Ecklington and Ulley. Further 'Starfish' bombing decoy sites for Sheffield were located at Curbar, Thorpe Salvin, Ringinglow, and Norton. |
More information : A Second World War 'Permanent Starfish' bombing decoy located at Bramley (SK 504 933). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from Sheffield. It is referenced as being in use between 01-AUG-1941 and 08-APR-1943. It was also the site of a 'QL' decoy, which was built as part of the 'C-series' of civil decoys for Sheffield to protect Park Gate Steel. This is referenced as being in use between 02-OCT-1942 and 01-MAY-1943. The 'QL' decoy displayed lighting to simulate furnace glows, tram flashes and loco glows.
Further civil bombing decoy sites for Sheffield were located at Conisbrough (exact location not traced), Kiveton (SK 507 838), Norton (SK 369 804), Ecklington (SK 416 799), and Ulley (SK 472 886). Further 'Starfish' sites were located at Curbar (SK 270 743), Thorpe Salvin (exact location not traced), Ringinglow (SK 278 8816), and Ulley. (1)
Aerial photography from 1991 does not show any surviving features of the decoy. (2)
NGR concords with that given in source 1. The first 'Starfish' sites for Sheffield were commissioned in November 1940. Following on from this the first civil decoys for Sheffield were in place by January 1941 with the remainder finished by August. All urban layout decoys for Sheffield were decommissioned by August to September 1944. (3) |