Monument record MDO43820 - Civil Bombing Decoy C30b, Closworth, Clifton Maybank

A Second World War bombing decoy site at Closworth. It was built as part of the 'C-series' of civil decoys for Yeovil to deflect enemy bombing from the Westland Aircraft factory. The site functioned as both a 'QF' and 'QL' decoy. The 'QF' decoy consisted of a series of controlled fires lit during an air raid to replicate a target struck by bombs. The 'QL' decoy displayed simulated factory lighting to reconstruct the Westland factory. The site is referenced as being operational between 1942 and 1943. Aerial photography from 1970 shows a control building partially covered with an earthen mound surviving at the site good condition, complete with a blast wall fronting its entrance. The control building would have housed an operations room and provided the decoy crew with shelter. A further civil bombing decoy for Westland Aircraft in Yeovil was located at Chinnock.

A Second World War 'QL' and 'QF' bombing decoy located at Closworth (ST 573 120). It was constructed as part of the 'C-series' of civil decoys to deflect enemy bombing from Westland Aircraft in Yeovil. It is referenced as being in use between 02-OCT-1942 and 01-MAY-1943. A further civil bombing decoy for Westland was located at Chinnock (ST 496 146). <1>

Aerial photography from 1970 shows a control building partially covered with an earthen mound surviving at the site good condition, complete with a blast wall. <2>

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

<1> Dobinson, C S, 1996, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Volume III, Bombing Decoys of WWII, 128, 136, 163 (Monograph). SDO14087.

<2> Anderton, M J, 1999, Twentieth century military recording project: World War Two bombing decoy sites, 85 (Monograph). SDO18055.

<3> Dobinson, C S, 2000, Fields of deception: Britain's bombing decoys of World War II, 282 (Monograph). SDO18056.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1469279 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 21 2022 5:02PM