Bulphan decoy site

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outkast

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Came across this by accident really, two shelters, very similar to the decoy site at Nazeing, was the decoy site for RAF hornchurch


info from seax

A decoy airfield was sited to protect RAF Hornchurch 6 miles to the west. It is said to have been equipped with dummy aircraft and bowsers, as well as a flashing beacon and lights at night, making it a K/Q Site for day and night deception. Forced landings from a Spitfire and 3 other aircraft are known to have occurred. A Stanton Shelter and Operations Block remain on the site (TQ 65298611 / TQ 65528603), and an Accommodation Hut for the personnel (TQ 64588534). <1> AP ref. <2> <3> Site Assessment: Fieldwork needed to record surviving buildings: survival of dummy airfield structure is rare due to their ephemeral nature. February 2002: Documented in contemporary records, "Bulphan" was a World War Two airfield decoy parented by RAF Hornchurch 7 miles to the W. Dobinson, 1996, records that the site was both a day-time "K" site and a night-time "Q" site. "K" sites included grassed runways, defence positions and plywood aircraft among their simulations. "Q" sites included electric "runway" lighting, obstruction/recognition lights and moving "headlamps". <6> <7> <4> The site at Bulphan is recalled locally as being manned by six airmen. There were dummy aircraft on the site, simulated ammunition dumps and sandbagged defence positions. At night, two traversing "runways" were lined with electric lighting. An early night shelter built below ground level (TQ 6526 8612) was abandoned when it became flooded and it was subsequently replaced by an above-ground shelter (TQ 6258 8612). The decoy is reported to have been successful on at least one occasion, when it drew upon itself the incendiaries and high explosives of a heavy night-time bombing raid. <4> Site Visit February 2002: Both the night shelters referred to above still survive on the hill-side N of Doesgate Lane. The early shelter lies W of an access track although it is below ground level with only the steel escape hatch and a steel chimney pipe above the level of an area of rough ground. The escape hatch is open and, looking down, the interior can be seen to be partly flooded. The steel ladder has been broken away and access would be both difficult and probably dangerous. An aerial photograph taken in June 1960 shows that the original entrance was halfway along the S face but this has now been filled in. <4> <9> On the E side of the track stands the later night shelter. It is constructed of brick, rendered with cement which is crumbling away in a number of places. The bunker is of a pattern similar to that shown diagrammatically (Type 3395/40) on page 24 of Twentieth Century Fortifications in England, Vol. III, Dobinson, 1996, but with the inclusion of a toilet cubicle on the left, just inside the entrance. The overall dimensions are 39' long and 17' wide. <4> The entrance is on the long S face, now a wooden door protected by an outer steel grille. The shelter has, for many years, been used by a model aircraft flying club and a number of structural changes have been made. Originally, the entrance would have been flanked by projecting walls sloping down to the ground. These have now gone. Inside, there is a toilet cubicle on the left but part of the brick side wall and the doorway have been demolished. To the right, the Engine Room is still extant in its original form with its engine plinth set into the floor. To the left, the Operations Room retains its escape hatch at the far end. This has been sealed with a transparent cover; the steel ladder is no longer extant. However, the integrity of the Operations Room has been seriously compromised by the addition of twin steel doors to allow the entry and storage of a sit-on grass mower. This has been achieved by demolishing part of the long S wall, into which the doors and their frame have been set. Both the Engine Room and the Operations Room have what appears to be their original wooden doors intact. The door frames are lined with a rubber seal, probably to reduce noise and fumes from the diesel engine. <4> On top of the shelter there is a small brick-built pier. The purpose of this, and whether it is contemporary, is not known. <4> The above-ground night shelter is kept locked at all times except when members of the model aircraft flying club are in attendance. <4> Fifteen photos of site <5> Site Assessment: Over the years these two night shelters have suffered in different ways. The early below-ground example has been partly filled-in; the visible portion is flooded and effectively inaccessible. The originality of the above-ground shelter has suffered from the modification of its entrance, the knocking down of the toilet cubicle wall and the addition of double doors through the side wall of the Operations Room. <4> However, airfield decoy bombing bunkers are rare in the county. The only other examples are at Nazeing, the decoy for RAF North Weald, where the two comparable bunkers have received Scheduled Ancient Monument status. <4> On balance, in consideration not only of the rarity but also the site’s connection with one of Britain’s most historic wartime airfields, RAF Hornchurch, it is felt that the above-ground shelter should be protected statutorily while it would be unrealistic to offer the same protection to the remains of the below-ground shelter.

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Dave
 
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You may notice other reports contain photographs and some historic detail. Please add some to yours.

If in doubt read this thread:

[ame]http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=3540[/ame]
 

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