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#RAFLincolnshire
Updated: 5 Dec 12
K Decoy Site Opened: 13 Mar 1940
Q Decoy Site Opened: < 19 Jun 1940
Q Site closed: > 19 Jun 1940
K Site closed: 27 Jun 1941
Airfield decoyed: RAF Coningsby and RAF Manby
English Heritage Site Reference: Q18A
Approximate location of site centre: BNG TF352618 (Streetmap)
Pastscape record: 1464303
The Hagnaby K site was a Second World War night-time bombing decoy that was built to deflect enemy bombing from RAF Coningsby and, for a limited period, RAF Manby. The K Site replica airfield was equipped with dummy Whitley bombers and was in operation between Mar 1940 and Jun 1941. Hagnaby was also a Q site night decoy in June 1940, displaying lights to simulate an active airfield.
Hagnaby also temporarily served as a decoy for RAF Manby. The decoy ceased operation on 27 Jun 1941 due to the development of RAF East Kirkby, constructed in 1942, whose peritrack was less than 500 m from the site's centre of mass. By 1970 the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. Further bombing decoys for RAF Coningsby were located at Frithville and Sibsey. A further bombing decoy for Manby was located at Mablethorpe
Q-sites operated at night and tried to lure the enemy with sets of lights arranged to look like a real operational airfield, set out over up to a mile and a half of countryside. Q sites generally had a night-time staff of two who would check lighting before dusk and await nightfall in a shelter.
K sites were daytime decoys for satellite airfields which were typically of no great size and with very limited numbers if any of buildings, as it was deemed unrealistic to build decoys for the substantial pre-war permanent airfields. Such sites normally had an area cleared of hedges, one entrance road and a concrete yard which was only occasionally occupied with aircraft. Suitable sites were selected 2 - 6 miles from the stations to be protected and wherever possible on the expected line of approach of enemy aircraft.
See further reading on dummy and decoy sites.
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