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Monument record TQ 85 SW 360 - Starfish Bombing Decoy Sf66b

Summary

A Second World War bombing decoy site at Broomfield. It was built in May 1942 in response to the Baedeker Raids as a 'Temporary Starfish' site to deflect enemy bombing from Maidstone. The 'Starfish' decoy operated by lighting a series of controlled fires during an air raid to replicate an urban area targeted by bombs. Aerial photography from 1963 shows that the site had been given over to agricultural use and no surviving features of the decoy is visible. A further 'Temporary Starfish' site for Maidstone was located at Lenham.

Location

Grid reference	TQ 8260 5240 (point)
Map sheet	TQ85SW
County	KENT
District	MAIDSTONE, KENT
Civil Parish	LEEDS, MAIDSTONE, KENT

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Type and Period (2)

Full Description

A Second World War 'Temporary Starfish' bombing decoy located at Broomfield (TQ 826 524). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from Maidstone. It is referenced as being in use on 12-MAY-1942. A further 'Temporary Starfish' site for Maidstone was located at Lenham (TQ 920 534). (1)

Aerial photography shows that 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. In response to the Luftwaffe's Baedeker Raids a series of 'Temporary Starfish' decoys were implemented throughout the country at possible target locations. The 'Temporary Starfish' sites for Maidstone were implemented in May 1942. (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 M J Anderton, 01/01/99, Twentieth Century Military Recording Project, WWII Bombing Decoy Sites (Unpublished document).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> SKE58701 Monograph: C S Dobinson. Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 3. Bombing decoys of WWII : England's passive air defences, 1939-45.
<2> SKE14468 Unpublished document: M J Anderton. 01/01/99. Twentieth Century Military Recording Project, WWII Bombing Decoy Sites.
<3> SKE15274 Bibliographic reference: Dobinson C.. 01/01/00. Fields of Deception: Britain’s Bombing Decoys of World War II.