Monument record TR 16 SW 185 - Second World War Civil Starfish Bombing Decoy Sf61b at Hackington

In May 1942 a Civil Starfish type bombing decoy, composed of an irregular array of blazing baskets, was erected in a field in the angle between Cane Wood and Thornden Wood, north of Brittoncourt Farm, Hackington. (Military documents may have misrendered this ‘Hacklington’). This installation was designed to mimic unguarded lighting in a built-up area and thus draw fire away from Canterbury. Canterbury would suffer extensively in air-raids the following month - none seem to have been deflected as far north as Hackington, however
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : Unknown
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : Destroyed
Date of visit :

A Second World War 'Temporary Starfish' bombing decoy located at Hackington (TR 146 625). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from Canterbury. It is referenced as being in use on 18-JUN-1942. A further 'Temporary Starfish' site for Canterbury was located at Bridge (TR 166 544). (1)

Aerial photography shows that by 1972 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 first 'Temporary Starfish' site for Canterbury was implemented on 09-MAY-1942. (3)

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

Dobson C., 01/01/00, Fields of Deception: Britain’s Bombing Decoys of World War II (Bibliographic reference). SKE15403.

Dobson C., 01/01/00, Fields of Deception: Britain’s Bombing Decoys of World War II (Bibliographic reference). Ske15403.

<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 M J Anderton, 01/01/99, Twentieth Century Military Recording Project, WWII Bombing Decoy Sites (Unpublished document).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> 1972, HSL/UK/72/75/4 500 19-JUN-1972 (Photograph). SKE58716.