More information : A Second World War 'Permanent Starfish' bombing decoy located at Meltham Moor (SE 095 083). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from Leeds. It is referenced as being in use between 01-AUG-1941 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 Leeds to protect Huddersfield central station. This is referenced as being in use between 02-OCT-1942 and 01-MAY-1943. The 'QL' decoy displayed lights to simulate a marshalling yard.
Further civil bombing decoy sites for Leeds were located at Thorner (SE 386 397), Barwick in Elmet (SE 399 360), Swillington (SE 402 309), Wintersett (SE 371 162), Chidswell (SE 279 234), Emley (SE 259 138), Ingbirchworth (SE 197 052) and Cragg Vale (SE 004 205). Further 'Starfish' sites were located at Wintersett, Emley, Pudsey (SE 207 316), Barwick in Elmet, Clifton (SE 167 236), Cragg Vale, Swillington, Thorner, Chidswell, Slaithwaite (SE 042 135) and Ingbirchworth. (1)
Aerial photography from 1971 shows evidence of a trench at the decoy site, and the imprint of the base of a shelter. (2)
NGR concords with that given in source 1. The first 'Starfish' sites for Leeds were in operation by Spring of 1941. The 'Starfish' layout was dispersed around Leeds, covering the Leeds-Bradford conurbation and out towards Huddersfield and the separate Manchester system. Two of the twelve 'Starfish' sites for Leeds were closed in February 1943, with a third deleted in June. All urban decoy sites for Leeds were decommissioned by July 1944. (3) |