Monument record 7136/0/1 - WWII Army Bombing Decoy (Probably For Weedon Depot)

A Second World War bombing decoy site at Preston Capes. It was built as part of the 'A-series' of army decoys to deflect enemy bombing from military installations at Weedon. This was a 'QF' decoy, which consisted of a series of controlled fires lit during an air raid to replicate a target struck by bombs. It is referenced as being in use during 1941 and 1942, but could have been in use throughout the duration of the war. By the mid 1970s the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive.

{1} This report gazetteer makes specific reference to this A series (Army) decoy (a QF site) on p121. The report also contains detailed descriptions of the decoy type. The QF target is identified as being Weedon, presumably this means the Depot? The QF site identified in the gazetteer as being in use at least 1/8/1941 - 1/8/1942. Note that this was the only army decoy in the country.

{2} 'QF' site to simulate specific targets by night (QL fire) for Weedon Army Depot. These were smaller decoys than the Starfish during WWII. Further details of the operation of QL and QF sites in Gibson p.89-90 and in summary under 'Airfield Decoys' below.

{5} Aerial photography shows that by 1974 the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive.

{6} NGR concords with that given in source 1.

<1> Dobinson C.S., 1996, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Vol.III Bombing Decoys of World War Two, (unchecked) (Series). SNN39506.

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

<3> Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources (Database). SNN112922.

<4> Historic England, Undated, Defence of Britain, DEB01 (Archive). SNN112947.

<5> Anderton M.J., 1999, Twentieth Century Military Recording Project: World War Two Bombing Decoy Sites (Survey Undertaken for MPP), p. 79 (Report). SNN106122.

<6> Dobinson C., 2000, Fields of Deception: Britain's Bombing Decoys of World War II, p. 275 (Book). SNN105856.

Record last edited

Feb 15 2024 10:40AM