Monument record TQ 64 NW 354 - Airfield Bombing Decoy Q99b

Summary

A Second World War bombing decoy at Hammer Dyke that was built to deflect enemy bombing from Royal Air Force West Malling airfield. This site originally operated as a 'Q-type' decoy in 1941, and later became a 'QF' decoy in 1942. The 'Q-type' night decoy displayed a sequence of lights that simulated an active airfield. The 'QF' decoy consisted of a series of controlled fires that were lit during an air raid to replicate an airfield targeted by bombs. By the 1980s the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. A further bombing decoy for Royal Air Force West Malling was located at Collier Street. Hammer Dyke was also the site of a 'Temporary Starfish' decoy for the town of Tonbridge (at TQ 643 469).

Location

Grid reference TQ 6420 4630 (point)
Map sheet TQ64NW
County KENT
District TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT
Civil Parish CAPEL, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT

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Type and Period (1)

Full Description

A Second World War 'Q-type' and 'QF' bombing decoy located at Hammer Dyke (TQ 642 463). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from RAF West Malling. It is referenced as being active between 01-AUG-1941 to 12-AUG-1942. A further bombing decoy for RAF West Malling was located at Collier Street (TQ 700 464). (1)

Aerial photography shows that 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. Dated 10-APR-1988. (3)

Aerial photograph referenced in source 2 showing agricultural use of site. (4)


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 M J Anderton, 01/01/99, Twentieth Century Military Recording Project, WWII Bombing Decoy Sites (Unpublished document).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

<4> Untitled Source (Photograph). SKE58702.

Sources/Archives (4)

  • <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 Unpublished document: M J Anderton. 01/01/99.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.
  • <4> Photograph:

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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 11 2025 7:39PM