Airfield Bombing Decoy Q51b |
| Hob Uid: 1465090 | |
Location :
West Sussex
Arun
Bersted
|
| Grid Ref : SU9260002700 |
| Summary : A Second World War bombing decoy located at Colworth. It was built to deflect enemy bombing from Royal Air Force Tangmere airfield and was later used as a decoy for the city of Chichester. The site operated as a 'Q-type' night decoy from 1941 to 1942, where it displayed lights to simulate an active airfield. In 1942 the site became a 'Temporary Starfish' fire decoy for Chichester, in response to the German Baedeker Raids. A series of controlled fires were lit during night air raids to replicate a city targeted by bombs. This decoy was the last 'Temporary Starfish' decoy to be lit during the war on 25th April 1944. By the 1970s 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 Tangmere was located at Gumber. |
More information : A Second World War 'Q-type' bombing decoy located at Colworth (SU 926 027). It was built to deflect enemy bombing from RAF Tangmere. It is referenced as being in use between 01-AUG-1941 and 12-AUG-1942. The decoy site later became used as a 'Temporary Starfish' decoy to protect the city of Chichester. It is referenced as being active for this purpose on 12-MAY-1942. A further bombing decoy site for RAF Tangmere was located at Gumber (SU 958 120). (1)
Aerial photography and maps from 1946 and 1973 show that the site had been given over agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. It notes that the decoy was originally located at SU 928 033 [this was probably the 'Q-type site', not the Temporary Starfish]. (2)
NGR concords with that given in source 1. The Temporary Starfish decoy was constructed in event of an attack on Chichester during the Baedecker Raids. It was the last Temporary Starfish decoy of the Second World War to be lit on the 25-APR-1944. (3)
Aerial photograph showing agricultural use of the Colworth decoy site. (4) |