Airfield Bombing Decoy Q24a |
| Hob Uid: 1464396 | |
Location :
Norfolk
King's Lynn and West Norfolk
East Rudham
|
| Grid Ref : TF8280030700 |
| Summary : A Second World War bombing decoy located at Coxford Heath. This was a 'Q-type' and 'K-type' decoy constructed to deflect enemy bombing from Royal Air Force Bircham Newton airfield. The site was constructed in 1940. In 1943 the site also became used as a decoy for Royal Air Force Sculthorpe. The 'Q-type' night decoy displayed lights simulating an active airfield and is referenced as being in use from 1940 to 1943. The 'K-type' decoy consisted of a replica airfield equipped with dummy Blenheim aircraft and is referenced as being in use from March 1940 to October 1941. The site also featured a dummy bomb dump and old vehicles and machine parts were distributed around the site to resemble a realistic-looking decoy from the air. The underground bunker, which housed the generator and crew shelter was located to the south of the dummy flarepath at TF 832 309. Above ground wooden buildings were situated near a road to the west of the site. By the 1970s the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. Further bombing decoys for Royal Air Force Bircham Newton were located at Sedgeford, Salthouse and Burnham Sutton. |
More information : A Second World War 'Q-type' and 'K-type' bombing decoy located at Coxford Heath (TF 828 307). This was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from Bircham Newton RAF airfield and later for Sculthorpe RAF airfield. 'Q-type' decoy referenced as active between 19-JUN-1940 to 12-AUG-1942. 'K-type' decoy referenced as active between 13-MAR-1940 and 31-OCT-1941. Further bombing decoy sites for Bircham Newton were located at Sedgeford (TF 737 363), Salthouse (TG 080 425) and Burnham Sutton (TF 840 391). (1)
Aerial photography shows that by 1974 the decoy site had been given over to agricultural use and that no features of the site survive. (2)
NGR concords with that given in source 1. The 'K-type' decoy at Coxford Heath was equipped with dummy Blenheim aircraft developed by Sound City. The 'Q-type' decoy is referenced as being targetd by enemy bombs in June 1940, and the 'K-type' decoy is referenced as being targeted by enemy bombs on 26-JUL-1940. (3)
Aerial photograph referenced in source 2 showing agricultural usage of site. (4)
The Coxford Heath site was constructed as a decoy for RAF Bircham Newton in 1940, and was later used as a 'Q-type' decoy for RAF Sculthorpe in 1943. The site featured a dummy bomb dump, consisting of old vehicles and other airfield fittings positioned around the site, to make it look more realistic from the air. The underground control bunker, which housed the generator and crew shelter was located to the south of the dummy flarepath at TF 832 309. Above ground wooden buildings were situated near a road to the west of the site. (5) |