The Craigmaddie Muir Decoy Site was a large decoy system installed during World War II and in operation from 1941 to 1945, intended to lure enemy bombers away from their intended targets. The site consisted of elaborate light arrays and fires, laid out to simulate a fire-bombed, small scale representation of Glasgow, controlled by a nearby bunker (about 1 km to the west of the decoy site). Its purpose was to confuse the German pilots as to how high up they were and make them think they were over parts of the city.
The fire and lighting would work to replicate the city streets, blazes of the blast furnaces and even possibly tram sparks to divert German raiders from the Clydeside after pathfinder bombers had initially dropped incendiary bombs or flares in the city.

Fiona Howie, Baldernock Community