Northern Perspectives’ view of Darlington’s wartime Starfish bunker

Starfish 48a, between Haughton and Great Burdon, on the eastern edge of Darlington, photographed by Northern Perspectives (Image: Northern Perspectives)

In the field around the bunker was an arrangement of steel tanks, pipes, troughs and grids which made various fuels – oil, paraffin or creosote – pour, trickle or spray onto a source of ignition at timed intervals.

The Second World War bombing decoy control shelter near Great Burdon in 2003 (Image: Unknown)

The plan was that when the German bombers came over the east coast, the Starfish – they were properly called Special Fire, or SF, sites – would be set off so that from the air, all the effects looked like a town on fire.

Presuming this to be the work of the pathfinders, the bombers would drop their loads onto the fire, thus saving the real town from a pounding.

This site was ready by August 1, 1941.

Darlington was protected by a second Starfish site at Eryholme.

There were 237 Starfish across the country which attracted 730 bombing raids.

The Second World War bombing decoy control shelter near Great Burdon in 2003 (Image: Unknown)

However, there is no evidence that either Darlington or Eryholme were ever deliberately ignited – although Eryholme did go up when it was struck by lightning.

Most Starfish were decommissioned in 1943 and farmers quickly reclaimed their land.

However, at least some of 48a survived the plough and, listed in 2003, is visible from the air, as this picture by our regular contributor, Northern Perspectives, shows.

Northern Perspectives is a Durham-based cameraman who uses the latest drone-based technology to shed new light on our beautiful, and historic, landscapes. To see more of his amazing work, including his aerial videos, search “Northern Perspectives” on Facebook.