Monument record MDO47388 - Naval Bombing Decoy N15/pt2 Qf Site, Wyke Oliver Farm, Weymouth

A Second World War QF bombing decoy site located at Wyke Oliver Farm in Littlemoor. It was built as part of the 'N-series' of naval decoys to deflect enemy bombing from Portland Harbour's Royal Navy base. This was a 'QF' decoy, which consisted of a series of controlled fires lit during an air raid to replicate a target struck by bombs. It is frst referenced as being in use during 1941 and was decommissioned in 1944. Aerial photography shows that by 1968 the site had been given back to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. Further bombing decoy sites for Portland were located at Fleet, Speed Beacon and Littlemore.

BOMBING DECOY SITE. SRF. LAA. SF for Naval Base and Oil Tanks. Recorder- R. Perry. <1-3>

A Second World War 'QF' bombing decoy located at Wyke Oliver (SY 682 823). It was constructed as part of the 'N-series' of naval decoys to deflect enemy bombing from Portland. It is referenced as being in use on 01-AUG-1941. Further naval bombing decoys for Portland were located at Speed Beacon (SY 637 791), Littlemore (SY 682 823) and Fleet (SY 637 791). <4>

Aerial photography shows that by 1968 the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. <5>

NGR concords with that given in source 2. Portland's naval bombing decoys were decommissioned in 1944. <6>

Aerial photograph referenced in source 2 showing agricultural use of site. <7>

Bunker located approximately at SY 6787 82779, it may be associated with the QF decoy site or the SF (Starfish) site which was also in this location. <8>

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, 2619 (Digital archive). SWX5.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 2003, Defence of Britain Project Database, 2619 (Machine readable data file). SDO128.

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, 2619 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<4> Dobinson, C S, 1996, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Volume III, Bombing Decoys of WWII, 116, 119 (Monograph). SDO14087.

<5> Anderton, M J, 1999, Twentieth century military recording project: World War Two bombing decoy sites, 101 (Monograph). SDO18055.

<6> Dobinson, C S, 2000, Fields of deception: Britain's bombing decoys of World War II, 205, 271 (Monograph). SDO18056.

<7> Meridian Air Maps Ltd, 01-FEB-1968, MAL/68004/097 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20298.

<8> Anon, English Heritage staff comments (Verbal communication). SDO20299.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1413289 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 15 2023 4:48PM