Monument record TQ 74 NW 274 - Airfield Bombing Decoy Q99a

Summary

A Second World War bombing decoy at Collier Street that was built to deflect enemy bombing from Royal Air Force West Malling airfield. This was a 'Q-type' night decoy, which displayed a series of lights to simulate an active airfield. It is referenced as being operational during 1941. By the 1980s the siye had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. A further bombing decoy site for Royal Air Force West Malling was located at Hammer Dyke.

Location

Grid reference TQ 7000 4640 (point)
Map sheet TQ74NW
Civil Parish COLLIER STREET, MAIDSTONE, KENT
County KENT
District MAIDSTONE, KENT

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

A Second World War 'Q-type' bombing decoy located at Collier Street (TQ 700 464). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from RAF West Malling. It is referenced as being active on 01-AUG-1941. A further bombing decoy for RAF West Malling was located at Hammer Dyke (TQ 642 463). (1)

By 1988 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 M J Anderton, 01/01/99, Twentieth Century Military Recording Project, WWII Bombing Decoy Sites (Unpublished document).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 Unpublished document: M J Anderton. 01/01/99.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