Starfish Bombing Decoy Sf3d |
| Hob Uid: 1468428 | |
Location :
Derbyshire
North East Derbyshire
Eckington
|
| Grid Ref : SK3690080400 |
| Summary : A Second World War bombing decoy site at Norton. It was commissioned in November 1940 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 as part of the 'C-series' of civil decoys to protect industrial areas of Sheffield. 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 working factories. The site is referenced as being in use up until 1943. By 1985 the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. Further civil bombing decoy sites for Sheffield were located at Conisbrough, Kiveton, Ecklington, Ulley and Bramley. Further 'Starfish' sites were located at Curbar, Thorpe Salvin, Ringinglow, Bramley and Ulley. |
More information : A Second World War 'Permanent Starfish' bombing decoy located at Norton (SK 369 804). 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. This is referenced as being in use between 02-OCT-1942 and 01-MAY-1943. The 'QL' decoy displayed lights to simulate working factories.
Further civil bombing decoy sites for Sheffield were located at Conisbrough (exact location not traced), Kiveton (SK 507 838), Ecklington (SK 416 799), Ulley (SK 472 886) and Bramley (SK 504 933). Further 'Starfish' sites were located at Curbar (SK 270 743), Thorpe Salvin (exact location not traced), Ringinglow (SK 278 8816), Bramley and Ulley. (1)
Aerial photography shows that by 1985 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. 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 toSeptember 1944. (3) |