Starfish Bombing Decoy Sf8c |
| Hob Uid: 1469746 | |
Location :
Greater London Authority
Havering
Non Civil Parish
|
| Grid Ref : TQ5290080000 |
| Summary : A Second World War bombing decoy site at Rainham Marshes. It was built in January 1941 as a 'Permanent Starfish' site to deflect enemy bombing from the city of London. 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 operational until 1944, but could have been in use until May 1945. The Rainham Marshes site is a silt lagoon and aerial photography from 1981 does not show any surviving features of the decoy. Further 'Starfish' sites for London were located at Richmond Park, Farleigh, Lambourne End and Lullingstone. |
More information : A Second World War 'Permanent Starfish' bombing decoy located at Rainham Marshes (TQ 529 800). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from London. It is referenced as being in use between 01-AUG-1941 and 08-APR-1943. Further 'Starfish' sites for London were located at Richmond Park (TQ 204 730), Farleigh (TQ 375 610), Lambourne End (TQ 493 938) and Lullingstone (TQ 519 642). (1)
Aerial photography from 1981 shows that the decoy site is a silt lagoon and no surviving features of the decoy are visible. (2)
NGR concords with that given in source 1. The 'Starfish' sites for London were built by the end of January 1941. The Rainham Marshes decoy is referenced as being active during February 1944. The final decoys for London were decommissioned in May 1945. (3) |