Airfield Bombing Decoy Q40a |
| Hob Uid: 1464886 | |
Location :
Essex
Braintree
Stambourne
|
| Grid Ref : TL7270039400 |
| Summary : A Second World War bombing decoy at Stambourne that was built to deflect enemy bombing from Royal Air Force Debden airfield. It was later used as a decoy for Royal Air Force Ridgewell airfield. This was a 'Q-type' night decoy, which displayed a sequence of lights to simulate an active airfield. The site included an earth-covered bunker that housed the generator and provided shelter for the crew who manned the decoy. The Stambourne site is referenced as being in use between June 1940 and August 1942. By the 1980s the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. A further bombing decoy site for Royal Air Force Ridgewell was located at Poslingford. |
More information : A Second World War 'Q-type' bombing decoy located at Stambourne (TL 727 394). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from RAF Debden, and later also used for RAF Ridgewell. It is referenced as being active between 19-JUN-1940 and 12-AUG-1942. (1)
By 1980 the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. (2)
NGR concords with that given in source 1. (3)
Essex SMR number for this decoy is 20304. An earth-covered bunker housed the generator the the lighting of the 'Q-type' decoy, which also provided shelter for the decoy crew. (4)
A further bombing decoy for RAF Ridgewell was located at Poslingford. (5) |