Monument record TQ 66 NE 251 - Airfield Bombing Decoy Q96b

Summary

A Second World War bombing decoy at Luddesdown that was built to deflect enemy bombing from Royal Air Force Gravesend airfield. This was a 'Q-type' night decoy, which displayed a series of lights to simulate an active airfield. It is referenced as being in use from 1941 to 1942. By the 1960s the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. A further bombing decoy site for Royal Air Force Gravesend was located at Cliffe Marshes.

Location

Grid reference TQ 6880 6620 (point)
Map sheet TQ66NE
County KENT
Civil Parish CUXTON, MEDWAY, KENT
Unitary Authority MEDWAY

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

A Second World War 'Q-type' bombing decoy located at Luddesdown (TQ 688 662). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from RAF Gravesend. It is referenced as being in use between 01-AUG-1941 to 12-AUG-1942. A further bombing decoy was located at Cliffe Marshes (TQ 727 778). (1)

By 1963 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. (3)


<1> C S Dobinson, Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 3. Bombing decoys of WWII : England's passive air defences, 1939-45 (Monograph). SKE58701.

<2> M J Anderton, 01/01/99, Twentieth Century Military Recording Project, WWII Bombing Decoy Sites (Unpublished document). SKE14468.

<3> Dobinson C., 01/01/00, Fields of Deception: Britain’s Bombing Decoys of World War II (Bibliographic reference). SKE15274.

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <1> Monograph: C S Dobinson. Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 3. Bombing decoys of WWII : England's passive air defences, 1939-45.
  • <2> Unpublished document: M J Anderton. 01/01/99. Twentieth Century Military Recording Project, WWII Bombing Decoy Sites.
  • <3> Bibliographic reference: Dobinson C.. 01/01/00. Fields of Deception: Britain’s Bombing Decoys of World War II.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Non-Intrusive Event: Landscapes of War national recording project (Kent) (EKE20813)

Record last edited

Dec 10 2025 2:31PM