Monument record 7104/0/1 - WWII Starfish Decoy Site (aka RAF Hardingstone Special Fire Site)

A Second World War bombing decoy site at Hardingstone [actually in Little Houghton parish]. It was built in June 1941 as a 'Permanent Starfish' site to deflect enemy bombing from the town of Northampton. 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 until 1943. Aerial photography from 1965 shows that the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. A further 'Starfish' site for Northampton was located at Kislingbury

{1} B Lowry. Also check re NA or other archaeological report which identified physical remains of a 'starfish' in this part of the county? Oral report by J Rigby identifies site as called RAF Hardingstone."A 'special fire' site was intended to simulate a burning target as viewed from the air. Another reportedly in Kislingbury parish (see entry for Upton parish for details)."

{2} Starfish site to simulate large fires in Northampton by night (with another at Kislingbury). Starfish were the biggest and most complex of the decoys for civilian and industrial WW2 targets. Further details of the operation of Starfish sites in Gibson p89-90 and in summary under 'Airfield Decoys' below.

{3} The report gazetteer makes specific reference to this site on p147 & 152. The report also contains detailed descriptions of this and other decoy types. Note the site known as Hardingstone though NGR places it in Lt Houghton parish. The gazetteer places the decoy as having been in use at least 1.8.1941 - 8.4.1943.

{5} A Second World War bombing decoy site at Hardingstone. It was built in June 1941 as a 'Permanent Starfish' site to deflect enemy bombing from the town of Northampton. 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 until 1943.

{6} Aerial photography from 1965 shows that the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive.

{7} NGR concords with that given in source 3. The 'Starfish' decoys for Northampton were built in June 1941

<1> RIGBY J., Oral Report to SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN50507.

<2> Gibson M.L., 1982, Aviation In Northamptonshire: An Illustrated History, p.90 (unchecked) (Book). SNN100276.

<3> DOBINSON C.S., 1996, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Bombing Decoys of World War Two, (unchecked) (Report). SNN46693.

<4> OSBORNE M., 1999, Note, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN55505.

<5> NATIONAL MONUMENTS RECORD, 2012, NMR Monument Report, HOB UID 1469813 (unchecked) (Database). SNN108196.

<6> Anderton M.J., 1999, Twentieth Century Military Recording Project: World War Two Bombing Decoy Sites (Survey Undertaken for MPP), p. 81 (Report). SNN106122.

<7> Dobinson C., 2000, Fields of Deception: Britain's Bombing Decoys of World War II, p. 90, 266 (Book). SNN105856.

Record last edited

Jan 24 2023 2:07PM