Starfish site
Encyclopedia
Starfish sites, or bombing decoy sites, were deliberately created simulations of burning towns that were constructed in Britain during World War II
. The name came from the code name for one of the sites, "Starfish", itself from the original code, SF, for Special Fire.
Starfish sites were used to decoy German night bomber
s away from bombing real towns. Towns thus successfully protected, according to some, include Bristol
, Sheffield
, and Derby
. 'Starfish' decoy sites were part of Britain’s war of deception against German attacks, and were designed to protect various targets, including airfields, factories, and even cities. They were established in July 1940 by the National Decoy Authority, as part of a programme of civil defences known as the 'C-series' of civil decoys. They were operated by lighting a series of controlled fires or other pyrotechnics during an air raid, in order to simulate an urban area targeted by bombs. There were various types of smaller decoy sites, including the “QL” decoy sites, which used lights, and the “QF” sites, which were dummy fire sites. The 'QL' decoys used a grid of muted lights to resemble factories during a poorly observed blackout.
on the Mendip Hills
, which was intended to represent the blazing lights of Bristol. The decoy, known under the code-name "Starfish", derived from the original code, SF (Special Fire), used fires of creosote and water to simulate incendiary bombs exploding. In addition, glow boxes were used to simulate the streets and railways of Bristol
; the light bulbs were powered by electrical generators turned by Coventry Climax petrol engines contained in two bunkers. The success of this endeavour is questionable, with no ground indications that the hills were used as targets.
A Starfish decoy site existed at Long Wood at grid reference
outside Eaglesham
in East Renfrewshire
, Scotland. Clusters of impressions where basket fires once stood, bounded by fire-break trenches, covered much of the area in World War II photographs, and a prominent structure near the site may have been the decoy control bunker. Anti-aircraft gun emplacements have been noted at the site. Carrington Moss
, near Manchester
, was another Starfish site.
A relatively intact Starfish control bunker can also be seen at Liddington
Hill overlooking Swindon. The bunker is at the edge of the small copse on the eastern summit of the hill, which is a landmark easily visible from the M4 motorway
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The name came from the code name for one of the sites, "Starfish", itself from the original code, SF, for Special Fire.
Starfish sites were used to decoy German night bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
s away from bombing real towns. Towns thus successfully protected, according to some, include Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, and Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
. 'Starfish' decoy sites were part of Britain’s war of deception against German attacks, and were designed to protect various targets, including airfields, factories, and even cities. They were established in July 1940 by the National Decoy Authority, as part of a programme of civil defences known as the 'C-series' of civil decoys. They were operated by lighting a series of controlled fires or other pyrotechnics during an air raid, in order to simulate an urban area targeted by bombs. There were various types of smaller decoy sites, including the “QL” decoy sites, which used lights, and the “QF” sites, which were dummy fire sites. The 'QL' decoys used a grid of muted lights to resemble factories during a poorly observed blackout.
Black Down
During World War II, a bombing decoy town was constructed on Black DownBlack Down, Somerset
Black Down is the highest hill in the Mendip Hills, Somerset, in south-western England. Black Down lies just a few miles eastward of the Bristol Channel at Weston-super-Mare, and provides a view over the Chew Valley...
on the Mendip Hills
Mendip Hills
The Mendip Hills is a range of limestone hills to the south of Bristol and Bath in Somerset, England. Running east to west between Weston-super-Mare and Frome, the hills overlook the Somerset Levels to the south and the Avon Valley to the north...
, which was intended to represent the blazing lights of Bristol. The decoy, known under the code-name "Starfish", derived from the original code, SF (Special Fire), used fires of creosote and water to simulate incendiary bombs exploding. In addition, glow boxes were used to simulate the streets and railways of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
; the light bulbs were powered by electrical generators turned by Coventry Climax petrol engines contained in two bunkers. The success of this endeavour is questionable, with no ground indications that the hills were used as targets.
A Starfish decoy site existed at Long Wood at grid reference
British national grid reference system
The Ordnance Survey National Grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references used in Great Britain, different from using latitude and longitude....
outside Eaglesham
Eaglesham
Eaglesham , is a village and parish set in the west central Lowlands of Scotland - population 3,127 . Today it is chiefly a dormitory town for commuters to nearby Glasgow. The village is distinctive in being based around a large triangular green...
in East Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. Until 1975 it formed part of the county of Renfrewshire for local government purposes along with the modern council areas of Renfrewshire and Inverclyde...
, Scotland. Clusters of impressions where basket fires once stood, bounded by fire-break trenches, covered much of the area in World War II photographs, and a prominent structure near the site may have been the decoy control bunker. Anti-aircraft gun emplacements have been noted at the site. Carrington Moss
Carrington Moss
Carrington Moss is a large area of peat bog near Carrington in Greater Manchester, England. It is south of the River Mersey, approximately south-west of Manchester, and occupies an area of about...
, near Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, was another Starfish site.
A relatively intact Starfish control bunker can also be seen at Liddington
Liddington
Liddington is a village near Swindon in Wiltshire, England. The settlement lies south east of Swindon town, close to the M4 motorway, junction 15 of which is about 1.5 kilometres away via the B4192 - known as Purley Road where it passes through Liddington village.The parish as a whole has been an...
Hill overlooking Swindon. The bunker is at the edge of the small copse on the eastern summit of the hill, which is a landmark easily visible from the M4 motorway
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
.
Further reading
- Fields of Deception - Britain's Bombing Decoys of World War II, Colin Dobson, Methuen Publishing, 2000, ISBN 9780413745705.
- The Bombing of Rolls-Royce at Derby in Two World Wars, 2002, Kirk, Felix & Bartnik, RR Heritage Trust