Monument record MDO30342 - Second World War bombing decoy or anti-landing obstacles, Winfrith Heath, Winfrith Newburgh

A series of pits laid out in a grid-like pattern are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1946 on Winfrith Heath. The site of a Second World War bombing decoy has been documented in the area and these features may relate to it. They may alternatively be anti-landing obstacles.

A Second World War 'Q-type' bombing decoy located at Knighton (SY 812 866). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from RAF Warmwell. It is referenced as being in use between 01-AUG-1941 and 12-AUG-1942. (Dobinson 1996)

Aerial photographs are inconclusive as to whether any features of the decoy site survive. (Anderton 1999)

NGR concords with that given in source 1. <3>

A series of pits laid out in a grid-like pattern are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1946 on Winfrith Heath (Royal Air Force). The site of a Second World War bombing decoy has been documented in the area and these features may relate to it. They may alternatively be anti-landing obstacles. The features are no longer visible on the most recent aerial photographs; part of the area being obscured by schrub and modern tree-planting. They were digitally plotted during the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project.

Historic England, National Record of the Historic Environment, 1465221 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Royal Air Force, 04-Nov-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 6422-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13240.

Dobinson, C S, 1996, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Volume III, Bombing Decoys of WWII (Monograph). SDO14087.

Anderton, M J, 1999, Twentieth century military recording project: World War Two bombing decoy sites (Monograph). SDO18055.

<3> Dobinson, C S, 2000, Fields of deception: Britain's bombing decoys of World War II (Monograph). SDO18056.

Record last edited

Jan 22 2026 3:29PM