Starfish Bombing Decoy Sf3a |
Hob Uid: 1468509 | |
Location : Derbyshire Derbyshire Dales Curbar
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Grid Ref : SK2700074300 |
Summary : A Second World War bombing decoy site at Curbar. This was a 'Permanent Starfish' decoy that was built to deflect enemy bombing from the city 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 site is referenced as being in use between 1940 and 1942, but could have been used up until late 1944. Aerial photography shows that by 1968 the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. Further 'Starfish' sites for Sheffield were located at Thorpe Salvin, Ringinglow, Norton and Bramley. |
More information : A Second World War 'Starfish' bombing decoy located at Curbar (SK 270 743). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from Sheffield. It is referenced as being in use between 01-AUG-1941 and 24-MAR-1942. Further 'Starfish' sites were located at Thorpe Salvin (exact location not traced), Ringinglow (SK 278 8816), Norton (SK 369 804), Bramley (SK 504 933) and Ulley (SK 472 886). (1)
Aerial photography shows that by 1968 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 to September 1944. (3) |