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Monument record TR 36 SE 920 - Naval Coast Bombing Decoy 652

Summary

A Second World War bombing decoy site at Sandwich Flats. It was built as part of the Naval Coast decoys for Dover Command to deflect enemy bombing from a system of coastal loading points known as 'hards'. The decoys were commissioned as part of Operation Fortitude South in preparation for the invasion of Normandy. This was a 'QL' decoy, which was designed to simulate the sparse lighting and small cluster of buildings found at the landing craft 'hards'. The Naval Coast 'QL' decoys were constructed between April and May 1943 with the basic features of a 'QL', essentially the shelter and the fittings for the lights. The electrical equipment was to be fitted at a date nearer to the invasion, which led the Naval Coast decoys to become known as Mobile 'QLs' (or 'MQLs'). Aerial photography from 1979 shows that the site had been developed into a golf course and no features of the decoy survive. Further bombing decoy sites for Dover Command were located at Camber Castle and Worth.

Location

Grid reference	TR 3520 6080 (point)
Map sheet	TR36SE
County	KENT
District	DOVER, KENT
Civil Parish	WORTH, DOVER, KENT

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Type and Period (1)

BOMBING DECOY (Built in 1943, Modern - 1943 AD to 1945 AD)

Full Description

A Second World War 'QL' bombing decoy site at Sandwich Flats (TR 352 608). It was built as part of the Naval Coast decoys for Dover Command to deflect enemy bombing from naval installations. It is referenced as being in use on 05-NOV-1942. Further 'QL' decoys for Dover Command were located at Worth (TR 369 563) and Camber Castle (TQ 917 183). (1)

Aerial photography from 1972 shows that the site had been developed into a golf course and no features of the decoy survive. (2)

NGR concords with that given in source 1. The Naval Coast decoys were built to deflect enemy bombing from a system of concrete loading points known as 'hards'. The decoys were commissioned as part of Operation Fortitude South in preparation for the invasion of Normandy. They were 'QL' decoys, which were designed to simulate the sparse lighting and small cluster of buildings found at the landing craft 'hards'. The Naval Coast 'QL' decoys were constructed between April and May 1943 with the basic features of a 'QL', essentially the shelter and the fittings for the lights. The electrical equipment were to be fitted at a later date nearer to the invasion. This led the Naval Coast decoys to become known as Mobile 'QLs' (or 'MQLs'). (3)

<1> M J Anderton, 01/01/99, Twentieth Century Military Recording Project, WWII Bombing Decoy Sites (Unpublished document). SKE14468.

<2> C S Dobinson, Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 3. Bombing decoys of WWII : England's passive air defences, 1939-45 (Monograph). SKE58701.

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

Sources/Archives (3)

<1> SKE14468 Unpublished document: M J Anderton. 01/01/99. Twentieth Century Military Recording Project, WWII Bombing Decoy Sites.
<2> SKE58701 Monograph: C S Dobinson. Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 3. Bombing decoys of WWII : England's passive air defences, 1939-45.
<3> SKE15274 Bibliographic reference: Dobinson C.. 01/01/00. Fields of Deception: Britain’s Bombing Decoys of World War II.