Airfield Bombing Decoy Q64a |
| Hob Uid: 1465230 | |
Location :
Devon
East Devon
Woodbury
|
| Grid Ref : SY0370086900 |
| Summary : A Second World War bombing decoy at Woodbury that was built to deflect enemy bombing from Royal Air Force Exeter airfield. This was a 'Q-type' night decoy, which displayed a sequence of lights simulating an active aircraft. It also functioned as a 'QF' fire decoy, where a series of controlled fires were lit at night to resemble an airfield targeted by bombs. The Woodbury decoy is referenced as being operational between August 1941 and August 1942. After the war the site was given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. Further bombing decoy sites for Royal Air Force Exeter were located at Clyst Hydon, Aylesbeare Common and Clyst St Mary. |
More information : A Second World War 'Q-type' and 'QF' bombing decoy located at Woodbury (SY 037 869). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from RAF Exeter. It is referenced as being in use between 01-AUG-1941 and 12-AUG-1942. Further bombing decoy sites for RAF Exeter are located at Clyst Hydon (ST 056 012), Aylesbeare Common (SY 056 902) and Clyst St Mary (SX 993 917). (1)
Aerial photography shows that by 1946 the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the Woodbury decoy survive. (2)
The NGR for the 'Q-type' decoy concords with that given in source 1. The NGR given for the 'QF' decoy is SY 048 882. (3)
Aerial photograph showing the agricultural use of the site. (4) |