Kearney

[Ballyhalbert]

I have come across information which says that when Ballyhalbert Airfield was opened in June 1941, there was a decoy at Kearney, which is near to Portaferry.

Would anyone have any information relating to this?


Many Thanks

David

[hugoj_air]

I have come across information which says that when Ballyhalbert Airfield was opened in June 1941, there was a decoy at Kearney, which is near to Portaferry.

Would anyone have any information relating to this?


Many Thanks

David

David,

What kind of info are you looking for. Apart knowing roughly where the
Kearney site is, there's not a lot more known about it. One possibility would to talk to eldery people in that area who might be able to add some more details.

Hugo.

[ww2ni]

Hi,
I have seen mention that a "Decoy site was operated at Kearney" in the Action Stations book.

I have a few questions -

What would be used to present a decoy site? - False markings on the ground, brick buildings or the occasional inflatable aircraft?? - I have no knowledge of such things.

Where was the location and would there be anything remaining which can be recognised as such??

Hope you can help.

[PETERTHEEATER]

This is the one near Portaferry: FAUGHANVALE

No Q142, Decoy
Parent - Eglington
NGR: J 634524

The site named KEARNEY (Q143) and parented by Ballyhalbert is listed as
NGR: C 577219.

Information from Fields of Deception: Britain's Bombing Decoys of WWII by Colin Dobinson Published by English Heritage

[ww2ni]

Brilliant,
Thank-you

[ww2ni]

Paid a visit here today and was finally successful (Try, try and try again as they say!)
On each other occasion I was in the area of the 'runway' but on this occasion I was in conversation with a local who directed me to a shelter.

There were apparently 2 personel here and they had electric lighting laid out to look like a runway. - Inside the shelter is a block on which a generator would have stood. There is also only one entrance from which the generator room is on the right with another room on the left from which there is a ladder to escape through the roof if necessary.

Very interesting.

Hope to have some piccies on my site soon.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Odd coincidence. Since I have been looking at NI airfields recently, I found a (short) list of Decoy Sites and it occurred to me that you might be interested but I see you are ahead of me!

I should like to think that there are some worthwhile remains out there awaiting discovery. The control bunker is the most durable usually sited in a hedgerow or copse and so tends not to interfere with agricultural reclamation. I shall check out your site in due course.