Monument record MDO46240 - World War Two Naval bombing decoy N15/PT1, Fleet

A Second World War bombing decoy located at Fleet. It was built as part of the 'N-series' of naval decoys to deflect enemy bombing from Portland Harbour's Royal Navy base and Experimental Works Site. This site functioned as both a 'Starfish' and 'QL' decoy. The 'Starfish' decoy operated by lighting a series of controlled fires during an air raid to replicate an area targeted by bombs. The 'QL' decoy featured a grid of muted lights set out, often around ponds or tanks of water, to resemble a naval port during a blackout. It is first referenced as being in use during 1942 and was decommissioned in 1944. Aerial photography shows that by 1980 the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive.

BOMBING DECOY SITE. SRF Fleet. SF. For Naval Base and Oil Tanks. Underground Bunker. PEWS - Portland Experimental Works Site. Recorder- R. Perry. <1-3>

A Second World War 'Starfish' and 'QL' bombing decoy located at Fleet (SY 637 791). It was constructed as part of the 'N-series' of naval decoys to deflect enemy bombing from Portland. It is referenced as being in use on 12-MAR-1942. Further naval bombing decoys for Portland were located at Speed Beacon (SY 637 791), Littlemore (SY 682 823) and Wyke Oliver (SY 682 823). <4>

Aerial photography shows that by 1979 the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. <5>

NGR concords with that given in source 2. The decoys for Portland were decommissioned in 1944. <6>

Aerial photograph from 1980 showing agricultural use of site. <7>

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project (Digital archive). SWX5.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 2003, Defence of Britain Project Database (Machine readable data file). SDO128.

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<4> Dobinson, C S, 1996, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Volume III, Bombing Decoys of WWII, 116, 119 (Monograph). SDO14087.

<5> Anderton, M J, 1999, Twentieth century military recording project: World War Two bombing decoy sites, 101 (Monograph). SDO18055.

<6> Dobinson, C S, 2000, Fields of deception: Britain's bombing decoys of World War II, 205, 271 (Monograph). SDO18056.

<7> Meridian Air Maps Ltd, 29-NOV-1980, MAL/80037/169 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19795.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1413276 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 2 2023 12:50PM