NHER 13610 (Monument record) - World War Two bombing decoy

Decoy Airfield in World War II, on Burgh Marshes.
The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum state that there is the remains of a bunker at this site.
E. Rose (NLA) 26 July 1996.

World War II N Series (Naval) decoy, type SF/QL.
See (S1).
D. Gurney (NLA) 28 January 1997.

THE CENTRAL GRID REFERENCE FOR THE SITE HAS BEEN ALTERED FROM TM 4860 9380 to TM 4875 9413.

August 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The wartime aerial photographs of the decoy site reveal very few definite traces of the site (S1-S3). The decoy site consisted of a site of a daytime dummy airfield, manned earlier in the war by RAF personnel and a later night time ‘Starfish’ decoy for the port of Lowestoft, manned by Army and Navy personnel (S4). A number of poles are visible out on the marshes, which are likely to be the remains of the Starfish site fire baskets and grids (S1; p 49-52). The whole site is centred on TM 4875 9413. No definite trace of the bunker or decoy shelter was identified on the aerial photographs, although a possible structure of appropriate plan and size was tentatively identified. However a potential agricultural origin could also be found for this feature.

In 1944 a series of well-worn tracks are visible leading out into the marshes at Hall Farm and also at Carr Farm, 750m to the west (S1). These eroded tracks extend and fan out into the marshes and suggest repeated movement and access, probably associated with the decoy site.
Centred on TM 4889 9397 is a small cluster of earthworks, consisting of linear banks and ditches and a polygonal mound, 6m across. These are likely to be the remains of the Starfish fire baskets and other fire-based features. These earthworks are located within an area of marsh with a different appearance and texture of vegetation than the surrounding areas. This may be due to the recent activity and burning within associated with the Starfish. Two worn and disturbed areas of marsh are also visible at TM 4819 9436 in 1944 within the marshes to the rear of Carr Farm (S1). In addition to the tracks and earthworks a series of poles are visible in a line on the marshes, located at TM 4860 9417, TM 4873 9421, TM 4886 9426 and TM 4923 9443. These are possibly the remains of fire baskets or grids arranged to give the appearance of a linear bombing raid.

No definite trace of the bunker can be identified with any certainty on the wartime aerial photographs, this is likely to be due to the structure being well camouflaged and largely sub-surface. Centred on TM 4841 9404 in 1945 (S2) is a possible military structure, 9m by 5.5m. The feature is light coloured and slightly reflective, perhaps suggesting a concrete construction, however the texture and edges are quite irregular for this material. It has a similar textural and tonal appearance to the hay bales in the surrounding fields. However the location on the marshes, rather than in a field, and the complex shape could indicate that it is not a hay bale. A military structure could potentially have been camouflaged with a light coloured material, perhaps even to create an outward appearance of a hay bale. The possible structure consists of two parts, potentially representing the covered structure or bunker to the south with a blast wall and coal store to the north, indicated by the diagram existing of the decoy site bunker (S4). The central section of the larger structure or bunker has a higher rectangular area projecting from the roof, with a possible curved profile. This may perhaps be associated with an exit hatch. However it must be noted that this ‘structure’ looks slightly different in 1946 (S3), only one area of light coloured material is visible, which could suggest that the features visible on both aerial photographs are actually hay bales. Nothing is visible on later aerial photographs at this location and the above HER entries suggest that this structure still survives. It is therefore possible that the decoy site bunker was located nearer to the Hall buildings and has not been identified on the aerial photographs, as the top of the bunker may have the outward appearance of a farm outbuilding. However there is no mention of a surviving bunker in (S4).
S. Massey (NMP), 09 August 2006.

19 April 2014.
[1] visited the 'bombing decoy shelter' or bunker at TG 48565 93758. The shelter is in poor condition as the south wall and partitioning walls have been removed and only a small, cracked section of the blast wall remains. [1] maintains that it is of the same design as the decoy shelter at Surlingham, NHER 13608.
A. Beckham (HES), 16 July 2014.