More information : A Second World War 'Permanent Starfish' bombing decoy located at Gayton (SJ 269 796). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from Liverpool. It is referenced as being in use between 01-MAR-1942 and 08-APR-1943. It was also the site of a 'QL' decoy, which was built as part of the 'C-series' of civil decoys for Liverpool to protect Lime Street Station. This is referenced as being in use between 02-OCT-1942 and 01-MAY-1943. The 'QL' decoy featured lighting to simulate the marshalling yard, factory lights and loco glows associated with the railway station.
Further civil bombing decoy sites for Liverpool were located at Formby (SD 284 048), Little Crosby (SD 307 017), Lydiate (SD 347 038), Knowsley (SJ 421 955), Halewood (SJ 461 866), Hale (SJ 454 833), Ince (SJ 472 767), Brimstage (SJ 297 833), Moreton (SJ 247 909), Hoylake (SJ 229 882), Heswall (SJ 245 820), Little Hilber (SJ 189 872), and Burton Marsh (SJ 286 749).
Further 'Starfish' bombing decoy sites for Liverpool were located at Formby, Hale, Ince, Brimstage, Wallasey (exact position not traced), Little Crosby, Heswall, Moreton, Llandegla, Llanasa, Fenn's Moss, Little Hilber, and Burton Marsh. (1)
Aerial photography shows that by 1975 the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. (2)
NGR concords with that given in source 1. The first civil decoys for Liverpool were in place by the summer of 1941. The bombing decoys for Liverpool had limited success, possibly because the decoys were positioned too far out from their intended targets. (3) |