Information for record number MWA9686:
Permanent Starfish Site, Leamington Hastings

Summary The site of a fire based bombing decoy installation known as a 'Starfish' from the Second World War. Night time fires were created to confuse the enemy into dropping their bombs away from their real target.
What Is It?  
Type: Bombing Decoy
Period: Unknown
Where Is It?  
Parish: Leamington Hastings
District: Rugby, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 45 68
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 The site of a Permanent Starfish, ('Starfish' from 'Special Fires'). Fire based decoys were set up all over the country in November 1940 (following the bombing of Coventry in November 1940) to protect urban areas, in this case Coventry, or what was left of it.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: 20th Century Defence in Britain. An introductory guide. Revised edition
Author/originator: editor Bernard Lowry
Date: 1999
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Twentieth Century Fortifications in England
Author/originator: Dobinson, C S
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: III
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
monument BOMBING DECOY * A system of lights, controlled fires or dummy constructions, used during WWII to provide a counterfeit target for enemy aircraft. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument FORTIFICATION * A usually permanent defensive work. Use specific type where known. back
monument DEFENCE * This is the top term for the class. See DEFENCE Class List for narrow terms. back
monument TARGET * Any structure or object, used for the purpose of practice shooting by aerial, seaborne or land mounted weapons. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record