Monument record MWX3086 - Bombing Decoy, Brownsea Island, Studland

Bombing Decoy at Western end of Brownsea Island. Early in 1941 an MSND (Major Strategic Night Decoy) had been established with flares to draw bombers from Poole and Bournemouth, operated by RAF personnel. (1)

<1> Papworth, M, 1992, Brownsea Island, Dorset. Wessex region, 112,755 (Unpublished document). SWX1390.

Early in 1941 an MSND (Major Strategic Night Decoy) had been established at the western end of Brownsea Island, with flares to draw bombers from Poole and Bournemouth. It was operated by RAF personnel from a bunker about 200m from the flares. The bunker is made from concrete and is visible cut into the beach cliff north of Maryland Village (112092). It is overgrown but approximately 5m NE – SW by 2m is visible along the cliff face. The building 112455 is probably associated with the decoy. The aerial photograph RAF CPE/UK/1930 taken in 1947 shows a series of bomb craters across the west end of the Island. Some of these craters are now overgrown with trees for example those at SZ02150773. Legg (1986 p67) estimates that Bournemouth and Poole were saved from 1,000 tons of German bombs during the second world war and he writes that a technician from Elstree film studios was employed to create the decoy.

Record last edited

Sep 8 2024 4:04PM