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#RAFLincolnshire
Updated: 6 Dec 12
K Decoy Site Opened: 31 Mar 1940
Q Decoy Site Opened: 19 Jun 1940
Q Site closed: 1 Aug 1941
K Site closed: 31 Oct 1941
Airfield decoyed: RAF Spitalgate
English Heritage Site Reference: Q/K22A
Approximate location of site centre: BNG TF064325 (Streetmap)
Pastscape record: 1464380
The site of RAF Folkingham was surveyed and approved as suitable for the construction of a bomber airfield during the rush to expand before 1939. The terrain of Folkingham, however, was not optimum for a large airfield as it was a shallow dome of clay and it began service in 1940 as a daylight dummy K-site and Q-site decoy for RAF Spitalgate, built approximately one mile north-east of the future airfield.
The Folkingham Q/K site was a Second World War daylight dummy K-site and Q-site decoy for RAF Spitalgate. It is referenced as being in use as a Q site between 19 Jun 1940 and 1 Aug 1941. The K-site decoy consisted of a replica airfield equipped with dummy Fairey Battle aircraft and was active between 13 Mar 1940 and 31 Oct 1941. Activity on site seduced the Luftwaffe on at least three occasions including 6 Jun 1940 until RAF Folkingham was built nearby and the site was closed. By 1975 the site had been given over to agricutural use and no features of the decoys survive.
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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Folkingham on Wikimapia
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