Monument record 7106/0/1 - Rugby Starfish Decoy Site

A Second World War bombing decoy site at Clay Coton. It was built in early 1941 as a 'Permanent Starfish' site to deflect enemy bombing from the town of Rugby. The 'Starfish' decoy operated by lighting a series of controlled fires during an air raid to replicate an urban area targeted by bombs. It is referenced as being in operation until 1943, but could have been in use until September 1944. Aerial photography from 1972 shows that the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. A further 'Starfish' site for Rugby was located at Barby.

{1} The report gazetteer makes specific reference to the Starfish decoy on p.145 & 150. The report also contains detailed descriptions of the decoy type (summarised in part 4 of this report). This Starfish decoy operated with a Starfish decoy in Barby parish for the parent site of Rugby. Gazetteer puts date of operation between at least 1.8.1941 and 8.4.1943.

{2} Starfish site to simulate large fires in Rugby by night (another located at Barby). 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 p.89-9.

{4} NGR concords with that given in source 1. The 'Starfish' sites for Rugby were built by April 1941. The urban decoys for Rugby were decommissioned in August to September 1944

{5} Aerial photography shows that by 1972 the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive.

<1> DOBINSON C.S., 1996, TWENTIETH CENTURY FORTIFICATIONS IN ENGLAND: BOMBING DECOYS OF WORLD WAR TWO, P. 145, 150 (Gazetteer). SNN46602.

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

<3> Cadman G., 1998-9, Northamptonshire Bombing Decoys, p.136 (unchecked) (Article). SNN104042.

<4> Dobinson C., 2000, Fields of Deception: Britain's Bombing Decoys of World War II, P. 89, 204, 285 (Book). SNN105856.

<5> Anderton M.J., 1999, Twentieth Century Military Recording Project: World War Two Bombing Decoy Sites (Survey Undertaken for MPP) (Report). SNN106122.

Record last edited

Jun 14 2024 3:18PM