NHER 31920 (Monument record) - World War Two bombing decoy

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Summary

The site of a World War Two night bombing decoy (known as a 'starfish' site) in Wickhampton Marshes. Four small bomb craters are visible at the site on post-war aerial photographs.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TG40NW
Civil Parish FREETHORPE, BROADLAND, NORFOLK

Map

Wickhampton Marshes.
Site of starfish decoy.
Grid reference from Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum (but called Halvergate Marshes).
E. Rose (NLA), 26 July 1996.

April 2007. Norfolk NMP
Earthworks of four small bomb craters are visible at the site of a World War Two bombing decoy on aerial photographs (S1-S2). These craters are centred on TG 4474 0586. Four craters are present on a roughly southwest to northeast alignment. They are located within the area of a World War Two night bombing decoy (known as a ‘Starfish’ site) which used lights to imitate a genuine target. This decoy was positioned between Norwich and Great Yarmouth and probably served one of these locations. The decoy is shown on a map in (S3) but no additional details are given. No structures or features relating to the decoy itself are visible on the aerial photographs and only four bomb craters were present at the site.
J. Albone (NMP), 30 April 2007

  • <S1> Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 106G/UK/1606 3020-1 27-JUN-1946 (NHER TG 4406A-B).
  • <S2> Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1953. RAF 82/724 9-10 16-FEB-1953 (NHER TG 45005A-B).
  • <S3> Monograph: Fairhead, H.. 1996. Huby Fairhead's Decoy Sites. Wartime Deception in Norfolk and Suffolk.. p i.

Object Types (0)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Jun 27 2025 8:40AM

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