Starfish Bombing Decoy Sf8d |
| Hob Uid: 1469748 | |
Location :
Greater London Authority
Havering
Non Civil Parish
|
| Grid Ref : TQ4930093800 |
| Summary : A Second World War bombing decoy site at Lambourne End. 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 1943, but could have been in use until May 1945. Aerial photography from 1981 shows that the site had been given over to agricultural use and no surviving features of the decoy are visible. Further 'Starfish' sites for London were located at Richmond Park, Farleigh, Rainham Marshes and Lullingstone. |
More information : A Second World War 'Permanent Starfish' bombing decoy located at Lambourne End (TQ 493 938). 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), Rainham Marshes (TQ 529 800) and Lullingstone (TQ 519 642). (1)
Aerial photography shows that by 1981 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 'Starfish' decoys for London were implemented by 23-JAN-1941 and the final sites were decommissioned in May 1945. (3) |