Woodvale Decoy (Q164A) Downholland Moss

**johnjet** · 28-12-2011, 16:07

Does anyone have any information about the Woodvale airfield bombing decoy know as Q164A? It was situated a couple of miles to the east of Woodvale airfield on Downholland Moss, West Lancs. Visited the control building yesterday, still largely intact but as you would imagine in a very dilapidated state. I'd like to know where the actual dummy flarepath was situated, would be great if anyone could tell me the location any original plans or photos of the site. Many thanks.

**PETERTHEEATER** · 29-12-2011, 07:55

I'm guessing that this is the Control Bunker:

http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepat...z=19&oz=7&gt=1

Actually south-east of the airfield. Some info here; click on the + symbols for more info.

http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx...ordsperpage=10

Presumably you have tried MARIO website the Lancashire interactive archive. They may have wartime coverage. The reality is that remains of the actual decoy lighting is very unlikely. If it is just the layout of the lighting then only a vertical wartime aerial photograph is likely to show it.

EDIT:

Photo on Geograph with location (Control Bunker):

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/91160

**a10694** · 29-12-2011, 22:46

Usually very little exists on decoy sites other than the bunker. I've never looked at Woodvale, but I've studied the 14 other Mersey Decoy sites.

Contact the NMR and ask for what they have on aerial photos of the area, they will give you a list, and ask for a photocopy of each. They have processed 5 of my requests in December, so they must be short of work and are turning requests around pretty quickly.

This thread of mine shows the lighting decoy for RAF Sealand which is as explicit as I have ever seen: http://www.airfieldinformationexchan...1522#post91522

This other thread shows an oblique wartime view of Formby, nearby on the coast, and shows a fire site with baskets etc: http://www.airfieldinformationexchan...seyside)-Decoy

There are several local decoys and sites on my website: http://www.minwex.org/phpBB3/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=20

**a10694** · 29-12-2011, 23:23

The 1940's aerial photo is too "black" to see anything, but the 1960's aerial photo shows a line (in same alignment as one of the runways at Woodvale) of posts (?) in the field to the south, it does not join up with anything else, and crosses over the drainage dyke, possibly this is some "runway" lighting scheme. There also appears to be a path joining some of the posts up. They have disappeared in modern maps, if they were the posts for some lighting arrangement, then they are an exceptional find.

1960-1.jpg

**johnjet** · 30-12-2011, 13:39

a10694, I've been looking at a couple of the decoys on your side of the water, the ones at Burton Marsh and Hilbre island, which I didn't know existed before I registered with this site! I also looked at the 1960s photo on MARIO and noticed the line of what looks like poles to the south of the control bunker. I also noticed the three black parallel lines in the same field where the bunker is located. The lines are also on the same heading as one of the runways at Woodvale. The lines are not visible on modern aerial photos so I presume they are not drainage ditches. What do you think?

**a10694** · 30-12-2011, 20:37

I think the 3 lines are just field markings. I propose the layout below, based upon the lines of poles and some more obvious marks in the wooded diamond area. If I wasn't on-call this weekend I'd go and have a look because it deserves one, I'd look for remains of the posts around the wooded area. Then again I may be wrong. Looking at the 1940's photos, I don't think that even the bunker was there when they were taken.

woodvale decoy.jpg

Bing Maps show it in 3D Birds Eye View pretty well:

bing 1 3d.jpg

airfield drem.jpg

**johnjet** · 31-12-2011, 13:16

Thanks for getting back to me. I'll visit the site again shortly (its only a 15 min cycle ride to the site for me) and look for the remains of posts in the field and in the wooded area as suggested. Alternatively if you would like to arrange a joint visit one weekend please PM me.