Monument record MDO46241 - World War Two Naval bombing decoy N15/PT1, Speed Beacon, Fleet

A Second World War bombing decoy located at Speed Beacon. It was built as part of the 'N-series' of naval decoys to deflect enemy bombing from Portland Harbour's Royal Navy base. 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 first referenced as being in use during 1941, and was decommissioned in 1944. Aerial photography from 1980 shows that the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. Further naval bombing decoy sites for Portland were located at Fleet, Littlemore and Wyke Oliver.

A Second World War 'QF' bombing decoy located at Speed Beacon (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 01-AUG-1941. Further naval bombing decoys for Portland were located at Fleet (SY 637 791), Littlemore (SY 682 823) and Wyke Oliver (SY 682 823). <1>

Aerial photography shows that by 1980 the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. <2>

NGR concords with that given in source 1. The naval decoys for Portland were decommissioned in 1944. <3>

<1> Dobinson, C S, 1996, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Volume III, Bombing Decoys of WWII, 116, 119 (Monograph). SDO14087.

<2> Anderton, M J, 1999, Twentieth century military recording project: World War Two bombing decoy sites, 101 (Monograph). SDO18055.

<2.1> Meridian Air Maps Ltd, 29-NOV-1980, MAL/80037/169 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19795.

<3> Dobinson, C S, 2000, Fields of deception: Britain's bombing decoys of World War II, 205, 271 (Monograph). SDO18056.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1413276 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2024 4:36PM