WW II Z Rockets & Starfish decoys

Can I also recommend what is maybe the definitive book on decoys? It covers Starfish sites in some detail.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fields-Deception-Britains-Bombing-Heritage/dp/0413776328

I would also recommend asking over at AIX:

www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/community/

Many thanks for all the replies – very helpful – a couple of PMs also sent
Thank you again
OG
(Keith)

Nottinghamshire’s Decoy & Deception sites were featured in an education DVD that NAM produced for the county’s schools a few years ago.

This included brief details of the Q-Sites for RAF Newton, RAF Syerston and RAF Ossington.

It also listed the Starfish Sites for Nottingham as being at: Cropwell Butler, Clipston, Barton in Fabis and Lowdham.

If it helps I’m sure that I could rustle up a copy of the DVD for you – PM me a postal address if it would be of interest. 🙂

There are about 5 files, on Starfish sites, in the National Archives, and at least one seems to include maps.

Starfish sites and discussion

Laurie Brettingham’s book Royal Air Force Beam Benders No. 80 (Signals Wing) 1940-1945 Midland publishing 1997 ISBN 1 85780 040 0 is not the first place you might look for this subject, but Starfish sites came under its direction. There are references to Scottish sites at Blane Valley, Condorrat, Dumbuck, and Kilpatrick Hills. This is a useful and very well researched book, although a complex read. 80 Wing deserves more attention thnit normally receives.

There may well be more assistance in the learned threads in Airfield Information Exchange, which has many local expert contributors.

WZ862

Current Archaeology 228 (March 2009) states (referring to the battery at Shooters Hill in London) “…by 1943 these manpower-hungry sites were operated largely by the Home Guard.”, suggesting they were in place earlier – as does someone reminiscing to me way back who joined the RN in 1943, but described to me what sounded like a Z battery on the north Kent coast while he was still in the Home Guard.

Prompted by the above, some Gurgling has found this:
http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=6749.0

Any help?

Adrian

Hope this helps a bit.
List of Starfish sites around Glasgow :
http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/AADecoysClyde
List of known Z batteries, scroll down the page to the index:
http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/
Aerial photos of Polmadie Z battery
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/208539/details/glasgow+polmadie+toryglen+z+battery/
Other Z batteries:
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/search/?keyword=Z+battery&submit=search
Starfish sites on Canmore:
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/search/?keyword=starfish
Or a search on the website:
http://www.hiddenglasgow.com

Alan.

Adrian – it is getting closer to the area I am after and did not mention which is Glasgow. I think Glasgow had two Starfish sites. I am trying to find out when Z Rockets got under way which I think was 1943.
OG

Possibly not the most helpful of posts, but the island of Flotta in Orkney has the well-preserved remains of a Z Battery.

Adrian

Very useful – thank you mmitch.
Brgds
OG

Both types of defences were used in this corner of the UK and two local area History Forums
have sections covering them.
http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk/index.php
http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?board=72.0
You may need to register to see photos etc.
mmitch.