大象传媒

Joining the RAF in 1940, after initial training, I was selected for aircrew training as a wireless operator/air gunner in Blackpool. This was cut short by the devastating news that my father, a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy, was missing at sea due to enemy action.
I was given compassionate leave. On recall the adjutant told me it was too late to rejoin mu unit and offered me administrative work. This I declined wishing to have a more active roll in the war effort. He then told me I could volunteer for new special operations. Accepted, I was assigned to a special department under the leadership of Colonel Sir John F. Turner, seconded by the air ministry.
After many courses covering devices such as Parachute and Cable (to bring down low flying enemy planes), Dummy flare paths, and Starfish Decoy Site fires and lightning, I was assigned with a small unit to set up and operate the latter. These were devised to hoax enemy bombers into dropping their load away from the real target. On site a very deep control shelter was built initially, later replaced by a large stout shelter which also acted as a guard room. The small control shelter was just large enough to contain myself, as operator, a bed, and a selector unit designed for remote control of the decoy lights and fires. In bad weather the water collecting in the shelter made life very uncomfortable. Finally, a telephone kept base camp in touch with warning of enemy bombers movements.
The film industry constructed Heath Robinson like structures out of wood, canvas and hessian. Also clever lighting effects giving the impression of careless blackout.
When these drew the fire salvo of bombs the remote control unit was operated which set off the crate fires formed at random in a large field. These were ignited in a pattern which conformed with the direction in which the bombers were heading. Subsequent salvos would be directed at our installations instead of factories or centres of importance. Complementing these were large troughs with roofing felt and scrap timber fed by a tank of creosote which, ignited, would send up large plumes of smoke. This would conver the apparent success of the raid.
Another clever deception was a simple construction of wood and canvas which could be assembled in minutes to form a replica of the Hurricane or other aircraft. From a distance and overhead it looked the real thing. On one occasion a local farmer expressed admiration for pilots who could land successfully in a rough field.
The local villagers too were filled with curiosity about the many crates which could only be seen from a distance. Rumour had it that the RAF were breeding killer bees for war purpose.
At the time of the 'DDay' landings we were posted to Lymington in Hampshire to set up a decoy lighting system on a pond in the New Forest. This was intended to divert attention away from the activities taking place on the Solent.
In total these decoys drew many raids rendering them harmless on our war effort and saving lives too. Churchill in his story of the 'Battle of Britain' said the decoys had achieved remarkable results.
Ken Patterson

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