2016

SU3234 : WWII Hampshire - airfield bombing decoy control bunker, Houghton, Test Valley (1)

taken 8 years ago, near to Broughton, Hampshire, England

WWII Hampshire - airfield bombing decoy control bunker, Houghton, Test Valley (1)
WWII Hampshire - airfield bombing decoy control bunker, Houghton, Test Valley (1)
-
Airfield Bombing Decoy (Q and K sites): DoB ID: e18509
Starfish Bombing Decoy (SF Series): DoB ID: e19112

Hidden in woodland, this wartime underground bombing decoy control bunker operated both a day and night time decoy site in open countryside in the Houghton area. It would have been used to lure enemy aircraft away from the airfield at RAF Middle Wallop. In the summer of 1941 the site was the first to trial a new decoy airfield approach and landing lighting system called 'Drem Q' that became operational on 15 September 1941. This 'Q' site also operated alongside a 'Starfish SF' decoy (imitating fire from the after effects of bombing) [LinkExternal link] and a 'K' site's dummy airfield complete with film set constructed aircraft. [LinkExternal link].

The late summer of 1942 brought this decoy site into the limelight once again when it was chosen to trial a new lighting apparatus that simulated an aircraft landing and taxiing. Known as 'Hares and rabbits' it utilised trolley mounted lighting suspended from pulley-strung cables to simulate an aircraft landing and gradually coming to a stop. The site at Houghton became something of a test-bed it seems for Q sites in general during this period.

SU3234 : WWII Hampshire - airfield bombing decoy control bunker, Houghton, Test Valley (2)

Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Mike Searle and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Hidden [2] Other Photos: · WWII Hampshire - airfield bombing decoy control bunker, Houghton, Test Valley (13) ·
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
+
+
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
TIP: Click the map for more Large scale mapping
Grid Square
SU3234, 19 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Mike Searle   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Wednesday, 28 September, 2016   (more nearby)
Submitted
Thursday, 29 September, 2016
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SU 3233 3421 [10m precision]
WGS84: 51:6.3769N 1:32.3756W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SU 3232 3420
View Direction
East-northeast (about 67 degrees)
Clickable map
+
NW N NE
W Go E
SW S SE
Image Type (about): geograph  (Third Visitor for SU3234)
This page has been viewed about 351 times
You are not logged in login | register