Mar 20, 2009 burtonwood was also known as base air depot 1 bad 1, although an raf presence continued until october 1943. Raf burtonwood the largest ww2 military airfield hidden remnants. Raf burtonwoodusaaf station 590 memories home facebook. An interesting museumdisplay of the occupation of the base by the american forces both in ww2 and later years. Explore the history of raf burtonwood, well present key facts and items from the site. The base was opened in 1940 in response to world war ii by the raf and in 1942 it was transferred to the united states of america for. If you are looking for a specific book which we do not have in stock, then please get in touch and well let you know just as soon as it comes in. Admission to the heritage centre is free, we are a donation based charity. This page gives a brief introduction to the area before listing a wide range of local history and family history resources about the area. Raf burtonwood, near warrington is now sadly completely demolished. This is our second year at this event and i as sure it will be as good as the last year. If working from memory you trace out the track of the old perimeter fence on an o. So do i believe there was underground workings underneath usaf burtonwood, yes i do, but they wasnt particularly deep, or big. The site had 4,800,000 ft2 of continuous covered storage space.
This was mentioned in a small history book produced about the camp. Oct 16, 2007 burtonwood raf, main entrance burtonwood road bob dufton. Raf burtonwood was the largest airfield in europe during ww2 with the most usaaf personnel and the longest runway. Have any buried aircraft cachesdisposal aircraft actually been found.
Raf croft page historic aviation military airfields. As this does not directly relate to army aviation, you may wish to relocate. Bad 2 at warton was to specialise in usaaf aircraft with inline engines. From mr fergusons burtonwood book as long ago as 1959 it was estimated that by 1970 only 4000 feet of the main runway would be unaffected by subsidence with the rest sinking as much as three feet. I have an issue with the idea of us sovereignty on uk soil now, given that were not technically supposed to be in a war now, and the facility that i was referring to was set up in the 50s rather than ww2 and continues to operate. Nuclear the cold war conversations history podcast.
Egob was an airfield 270 kilometers northwest of london. Ten books of various genres authored by charles heaton allen. We currently have 143 books in this category in stock. Burtonwood association reunion the burtonwood association was formed in 1987 by aldon ferguson as a result of the response from his first book on the base.
Additional photographs and a more detailed history of the base can be found in aldons books, royal air force burtonwood fifty years in photographs, available from the heritage centre, and burtonwood. At that time it was under the control of the 47th us army area support group and. I changed in warrington to northwest of warrington. Merseyside is a metropolitan county in the region called north west england. For bookings and more info call our hotline team on 01925 444 888. The raf began to use the airfield in april 1940 as the countries aircraft storage unit run by 37 maintenance unit. Raf burtonwood was probably the largest military base in europe during world war ii, processing over 11,500 aircraft between 1943 and 1945 alone, but beyond that it was responsible for the support of initially the 8th air force, then additionally the 9th and ultimately the 12th and 15th air forces as well. The burtonwood association was formed in 1987 by aldon ferguson as a result of the response from his first book on the base. Burtonwood heritage centre was built on the site of raf burtonwood, formerly the largest airfield in europe. Burtonwood raf, main entrance burtonwood road bob dufton. Raf burtonwood still holds many secrets, which make it irresistible to explore. The raf burtonwood heritage centre is situated at gullivers world, itself situated on part of the raf burtonwood airbase. Secretary of state, the air officer commandinginchief raf sup port command, the raf commander raf burtonwood shall be an offence against these byelaws.
Raf burtonwood and the berlin airlift blog raf museum. Built for the raf and civilian use as burtonwood repair depot in 193940, the raf s no. Burtonwood air field raf burtonwood and burtonwood ahp, icao. However, if you look carefully there are a few things still visible and there is an excellent museum that documents its history.
Burtonwood grew constantly throughout wwii becoming the largest usaac base in europe and responsible for providing over 11,500 aircraft to the us war effort in europe. Burtonwood was also known as base air depot 1 bad 1, although an raf presence continued until october 1943. But time is running out, you have until sunday october to apply. The old aircraft hangers before they where demolished, ill always remember the iconic landmarks that i used to see whilst travelling up and down the m62. Until fairly recently some of its huge hangars could be seen from the m62 motorway. Getting to raf burtonwood heritage centre by car use the address for gullivers world as we are based on the resort site and visitors can utilise the same parking provisions. In terms of books we would recommend lancashire airfields in the second world war by aldon. Also there is no evidence at all to suggest nuclear weapons were ever stored at. Raf burtonwood was a major usaaf base near warrington cheshire. The roar of the engines in the test beds could be heard for miles around, especially at night.
Airfield publications a specialist publisher in aviation. Royal air force burtonwood or raf burtonwood is a former royal air force and united states army air forces base that was located in burtonwood, 2 miles 3. This book traces the outline of the development of the base from a small raf maintenance unit airfield blossoming into a town known as lancashires detroit in little over twelve months. Ken nuttall was a british national who was a teacher at burtonwood high school, an american high school at raf burtonwood air base outside of warrington, england. The staff of burtonwood heritage museum are dedicated to preserving the memory of the men and women who served the allied effort through wwii and beyond at the largest air base in the european theater during the war. Raf burtonwood warrington, nostalgia festival, sep th 16th 2019 raf burtonwood warrington, nostalgia festival 2019. A classic car and military vehicle show in order to support the heritage centre.
Raf burtonwood the largest ww2 military airfield hidden. Discover the best military aviation history in best sellers. Raf burtonwood s heritage centre is located alongside gullivers world theme park, warrington wa5 9yz 1. Mar 07, 2014 burtonwood opened in 1940 as no 37 mu, raf and provided spitfires for the battle of britain before being taken over by the usaac as its base air depot for the 8th air force. Burtonwood association car and military vehicle show. During the mid1950s the site was renamed raf croft and at this time period the site became tenanted by the usaf united states air force as a transient base for american personnel and their dependents from nearby raf burtonwood. Raf burtonwood was probably the largest military base in europe during world war ii, processing over 11,500 aircraft between 1943 and 1945 alone, but beyond that it was responsible for the support of initially the 8th air force, then additionally. My uncle gene was stationed there, where he met and married my aunt. The centre is normally open to the general public wednesday to sunday 2. Raf burtonwood played an essential part in the berlin airlift by carrying out 200hour maintenance checks on 2 engined c47s but mostly on c54 skymaster 4 engined transport aircraft of the usaf. Airfield publications publish books on uk airfields, recent publications include raf kirton in lindsey, burtonwood, woodvale and 611 west lancashire squadron, royal auxiliary air force, raf brampton and raf waterbeach.
Scholefield 19051956 full details 4483906 boeing kb29p superfortress us air force raf burtonwood, uk england r. Burtonwood home page historic aviation military airfields. In terms of books we would recommend lancashire airfields in the second world war by aldon p. Burtonwood was the maintenance and supply base for the us air force in europe in wwii being responsible for about another 30 bases. Theres just something about underground caverns and civilizations thats almost automatically appealing, and this is a particularly rich and nasty one, with cultish overtones and hints of an ancient history. The base was opened in 1940 in response to world war ii by the raf and in 1942 it was transferred to the united states of america for war operations. Raf burtonwood was a royal air force station in england, 2 miles northwest of warrington, cheshire. Raf burtonwood as a major aircraft maintenance facility in the main runway running from midleft to bottomright of the images is now. Raf burtonwood heritage centre warrington 2020 all you. Many of the exhibitors dress in the uniforms and civilian dress of the war years. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in.
Not been to this museum for about 10 years and cant believe how its extended and developed we spent about two hours at the museum and was given extra information by one of the employees having lived in this area all our lives, we grew up with the base and its employees. Raf burtonwood news newspapers books scholar jstor february 20 learn. We used to recommission the vehicles and then decommission the vehicles using all new preservative fluids. Driving on the m62 motorway from j9 warrington to j8. Leader name supplied in his raf black austinmorris 1800 and we drove to the hanger nearest to the burtonwood road, the doors where partly open and the hanger was deserted, except for a a nest of kestrels. Division at bad i, and is the total production at bad i, royal air force burtonwood between i july 1943 and 8 may 1945.
I was driving down the m62 heading east today and noticed that they appear to be demolishing the old hangers that the usaf used in ww2, what a shame i thought the only remaining part of the once mighty airbase with some of the old taxiway still visible, what a pity they did not leave the old ctl tower standing as local landmark. Find great deals on ebay for burtonwood and earlestown. Condolences or anything that you might like to express for the memory book. Its really great that you are keeping the ghost of raf burtonwood alive for those of us that served there, and that people of the area will know that the base existed at one time.
Burtonwood raf, main entrance burtonwood road youtube. Burtonwood is a village in the civil parish of burtonwood and westbrook, in the outermost suburbs of warrington, cheshire, england. Paying theme park visitors can also access the centre on the same days from 10. Media in category raf burtonwood the following 24 files are in this category, out of 24 total. Many a good memory still fills this aging body of mine, of the days that i served at burtonwood. One such person was aldon ferguson, president of the raf burtonwood association, who shared with us the connection between raf burtonwood, the usaf and the berlin airlift. Raf burtonwood was the largest airbase in europe with strong links to the local community and america. The aim of the burtonwood association is to uphold the memory of the men, women and activities that occurred at raf burtonwood, warrington, england since 1939 to the present day and to record all those achievements and preserve them for further generations. Heritage centre packages 2017 supported by voluntary donations and by gullivers world on whose site the raf burtonwood museum is located the venue is a very popular attraction with exhibits including period items of every day life at the base and things of relevant military significance the heritage centre. The demolition of raf burtonwood may have removed all of the familiar structures normally associated with an airfield but there is still evidence of this once great air base hidden underground. Ferguson as it is incredibly detailed and has all the lancashire airfields included. Burtonwood village itself is a few miles away from the site of the former station. During world war ii and the cold war it was used by the united states air force and united states army.
Yesterday i learned that an old friend and teacher had passed away in england, after a period of failing health. I visited the burtonwood depot on an open day in june 1989. Former wwii airbase redeveloped into warehouses and logistics centre the area near the m62 is becoming an important economic centre 60 years after opening what was the. The royal air force museum shop has a gift for everyone from pocket money toys to specialist aviation gifts. Burtonwood was the maintenance and supply base for the us air force in europe in wwii being responsible for about another 30 bases throughout the uk and over 70,000 personnel. England, cheshire urban ghosts media is coming soon well be up and running in no time.
But that presumed continuing mining which in the event never happened and would not have been allowed if the usaf continued to use burtonwood. The name burtonwood is known worldwide as the location of the former raf station burtonwood military camp. Raf burtonwood as a major aircraft maintenance facility in 1945. This first book in the tunnels series boasts an intriguing premise. Raf burtonwood fifty years in photographs airfield publications. American aircraft in royal air force service 19391945 martin model 167 maryland. Burtonwood was the largest airfield in europe during the war with the most usaaf personnel and aircraft maintenance facilities. During the early 1990s my company used to collect military vehicles from the underground storage facility at raf burtonwood. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers.
Us airmen saturated warrington, liverpool and manchester and the book also tells of the impact these men had on the lives of the locals. The latter is sadly out of print but copies can sometimes be found at warrington library. At that time it was under the control of the 47th us army area support group and was their major army storage facility in the uk. Burtonwood was also known by the us servicemen as, base air depot 1 bad 1.
One of the side trips that we took was to the cu chi tunnels outside saigon. Built on the site of raf burtonwood, formerly the largest airfield in europe. Logicalgraphitti yes we were taught about ww2 cheers, and probably from a slightly different perspective. The history of raf burtonwood is well documented elsewhere.
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