Historic Aviation Military
Preserving the History of RAF Burtonwood & WW2 Aviation
On Friday 27th August 1943 at 19.00 hrs, B-24H Liberator 42-7467 took off from Burtonwood Air Depot near Warrington on a routine flight test. The crew for this flight was 1st Lt Richard L Hester — Pilot, 2nd Lt William H Campbell — Co-Pilot, and 2nd Lt Bernard H Froelich — 0G.
The aircraft circled the airfield twice and climbed to 8000 ft, then headed in a Northerly direction at 2300 rpm and 35" manifold pressure, the co-pilot noticed that No 3 propeller was running about 25 rpm fast, trying to adjust the speed he found there was no response from the propeller control, Lt Hester then tried to move the propeller control both ways with no result, he then tried all four propeller controls both ways with no result.
After about two minutes, the propellers began to increase rpm rapidly, and he pulled off the superchargers and throttles; by then, the rpm had reached a point where the indicators were off the dial. No 3 propeller was the slowest at about 3400 rpm.
The aircraft immediately began to losing altitude and became violently unstable, rolling into a 90-degree bank attitude from one side to the other, Lt Hester pulled back the throttles and hit the prop circuit breakers and then pushed all the feathering switches and nothing happened, when the switches were pushed in they would not stay in but came right out and even when they were held in they did not affect the propellers, he the put the mixture controls in rich and tried using the throttles but did not affect the rpm.
At about 4000 ft, Lt Hester called for parachutes and headed the aircraft towards the sea; with a large amount of aviation fuel on board, he did not want the aircraft to fall on a populated area. At about 1000ft the pilot gained enough control to attempt a crash landing; Lt Campbell came to assist in preparing for a crash and cutting the switches. The aircraft settled rapidly to the ground.
The aircraft came down in a North Easterly direction at an airspeed of about 115 Mph in the field opposite Bradshaw Hall on Hall Lane, after bouncing first in the lower field rising up again to partly clear the hedge before bouncing a further two times with the left wing down by about five degrees at the time of impact breaking apart as it went before stopping 10 to 15 ft from the road, one of the propellers was sticking up in the field were the aircraft first impacted.
An engine was thrown into Hall Lane, and the front turret was thrown across Hall Lane into the field opposite. Lt Hester went through his window, and Lt Campbell-through his, and Lt Froelich was found lying unconscious some 20 ft from the aircraft. A small fire soon broke out, which resulted in the majority of the aircraft being totally engulfed. Aviation fuel was observed pouring from the port wing. The aircraft crashed at about 19.20 hrs after only being airborne for 20 minutes.
2nd Lt Campbell survived; 2nd Lt Froelich died in the ambulance on the way to hospital. Lt Hestor survived but was killed in a flying accident in the Netherlands just after the end of the war.
42-7467 arrived in the UK on the 15th August 1943 with its sister aircraft 42-7468, which crashed 3 days later at "Battery Cob" Bold, Nr St Helens.
There is a memorial window in St Elizabeth's Church, Aspull, see photograph. The only photos of the crash are taken from microfilm and are of very low quality, but I
Credit to Lancashire Aircraft Investigation Team. And Amanda Cockcroft of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society.
The B-24 Memorial window is in St Elizabeth Church, Bolton Road, Aspull, Wigan.
St Elizabeth Church, Bolton Road, Aspull, Wigan.
The tragic crash involving a B-24 Liberator bomber (serial number 42-7468) at Battery Cob in Clock Face occurred on August 30th 1943.
Taking off from RAF Burtonwood, the aircraft developed an engine malfunction, burst into flames, and struck a 32-foot earthwork during an emergency attempt to return to base, resulting in the tragic loss of all crew members on board.
Because the crash occurred during wartime in 1943, strict censorship was imposed on reporting and photography. As a result, widely published contemporary photos of the incident do not exist in the public domain. However, historical information, accounts of the disaster, and the localized context of the site indicate that the Consolidated Liberator involved was a four-engine heavy bomber built to operate from East Anglia.
The. Battery Cob was a disused rifle practice range built in 1871, situated near Bold Road in Clock Face, St. Helens (approximately 1.5 miles northwest of Burtonwood airfield. On the 30th August 1943, B-24H Liberator 42-7468 departed Burtonwood at 17.00 hours on a return-to-base ferry flight; the aircraft was headed for the 392nd Bomb Group airfield at Wendling. On board were nine personnel, including three passengers who boarded the aircraft just before it departed.
The aircraft which had just recently returned from a short test flight during which it reacted normally made a good take off in good weather, with the landing gear coming up when the aircraft was 100 feet high, it continued on a straight course from the west end of the east west runway gaining height all the time, when it was about one mile from the airfield it made a right turn of ninety degrees out of the traffic pattern. After making the right turn, it continued on a straight course, then made a steep turn round to the right.
It was noted that the aircraft had turned right, as a left-hand pattern was the rule. While in the turn, the nose of the aircraft started towards the ground and the aircraft disappeared out of sight 1½ miles north-west of the airfield, followed by an explosion with flames rising some 200 feet high. Ambulances and fire crews were dispatched to the scene immediately.
A low-quality microfilm of the burned-out B-24 Liberator 42-7468 at the Battery cob Bold.
The following are those who perished:Pilot, 2nd Lt. Merle F Tompkins, 329th Bomb Squadron of the 93rd Bomb Group
Co-Pilot, F/O Virgil R. Bell, 330th Bomb Squadron of the 93rd Bomb Group
Flight Engineer, T/Sgt Reed Armstrong of the 93rd Bomb Group
Navigator, 2nd Lt Eugene V. Maloney, 578th Bomb Squadron of the 392nd Bomb Group.
Radio operator, T/Sgt Leo E. Lovasik, 329th Bomb Squadron of the 93rd Bomb Group.
Crew Chief, T/Sgt Hyman Schwartz, 579th Bomb Squadron of the 392nd Bomb Group
Passenger: 2nd Lt William McKnight, 578th Squadron of the 392nd Bomb Group
Passenger: Capt. Maurice A. Lofgren, 93rd Bomb Group.
PassengerT/Sgt Walter F. Murphy, 579th Bomb Squadron of the 392nd Bomb Group
An example of a consolidated B-24 Liberator at Burtonwood with a Damaged Nose Wheel during WW2.
Warrington Walking Day, 3rd July 1953. Sacred Heart Church Parishioners of both sides of the big pond walking together in the procession. They are passing the golden gates at the front of the town hall. Credit to Barbara Lawton, Warrington memories Facebook group.
.50 Caliber Ammunition feed tracking found at RAF Burtonwood in the 1970s.
Brewster F2A Buffalo, Registration AS426, photo taken in 1940.
Memorial at Burtonwood for those killed in the helicopter crash on May 6, 1968. The service was held on May 9th, 1968.
F-100F Super Sabre 56-3898 - Buzz number FW-898. Photo by James Mackenzie.
Beaver 26137 DHC L-20A USAF date 1968 credit to Peter Quailf.
A scene from World War II at the Burtonwood Air Depot in Warrington, England. The image shows ground crewmen and mechanics working together on the main bearing of a Republic P-47 aircraft, a plane known for its durability and combat performance. The depot was a crucial site for repairing and modifying damaged planes, getting them back in the air for future missions. The photograph, taken on October 30, 1943, captures the collaborative effort of the maintenance team in keeping the aircraft operational despite the challenges posed by flak damage.
Douglas C-24 Globemaster 30046 USAF credit to R.L. Ward in 1958.
Fire Section Crew at an Unidentified Location Within RAF Burtonwood Airfield - Date Unknown?
Photo is Courtesy of Julie Evans of 635 Squadron Gliding School.
A photo of the 635 Squadron Gliding School Staff Cadets sitting on the J-Type hangar Annex roof with nothing to do on the weekend when the school was closing down. The 635 Squadron Gliding School at RAF Burtonwood (part of the RAF Air Training Corps) made its last flight after 25 years of flying and ceased all flying operations on 25 September 1983. (photo credit to Andy Oultram.)
Technical site with USAAF in WW2. In the background, A-Site’s two K-type hangars. Photo Taken From J-Type Hangar Roof.
VE-Day celebrations in Hangar 8, RAF Burtonwood.
Ready for delivery — Jake Eckert, 310th Ferrying Pool Squadron, Burtonwood airfield.
Boeing KB-29P Superfortress tanker at 1956 Armed Forces Day, Mary Ann site, RAF Burtonwood (unit marking on fin).
In the spring of 1949, the first flights of the Skyblazers Air Demonstration Team took place in the skies over Europe at the airbase in Furstenfeldbruk, Germany. The pilots were part of the 22nd fighter squadron from the 36th Fighter Wing as part of the USAFE (United States Air Forces in Europe). The USAFE headquarters instructed the team to create an aerobatics team using F-80B aircraft and perform demonstrations throughout Europe. Soon afterwards the team was given modified F-84E Thunderjet aircraft.
The 50-calibre machine guns were removed from the front of the aircraft for better handling in the demonstrations. By the summer of 1952, the team had performed more than 260 air demonstrations in more than 12 countries. In 1953 the team came under the command of the 48th Fighter-Bomber Wing based in Chaumont, France. Soon after that, they moved on to the F-86F Sabre jet for the next 3 years. During this time the team continued to perform air demonstrations throughout Europe using the F-86.
In 1956 they were moved back to the 36th Fighter Wing and stationed at the airbase in Bitburg, Germany. During this time a new air demonstration team based in the U.S. called the Thunderbird had been formed. In 1962 with the development of mid-air refuelling, the Thunderbirds were able to make the trip to Europe for demonstrations. This eliminated the need for a team based in Europe and the Skyblazers were officially disbanded.
Skyblazers display team F-86 Sabre on runway 09 at the West of the airfield. In the background are the 3 L-Type hangars at E-Site.
Skyblazers display team F-86 Sabre. Sabre 31201/ FU-201/ on the taxiway at the West of the airfield. This aircraft is still Airworthy today.
Delivered to United States Air Force as 52-4959, 19??.
Delivered to FA Argentina as ???, 19??.
Recovered from Argentina and assembled at Coleman, TX, 1989.
World Wide Aircraft, Miami, FL, September 1990-1992
- Registered as N105BH.
- Flown in a camouflage scheme.
Airplane Exchange Co, Miami, FL, June 1992-1995.
Thomas Righetti, Miami, FL, September 24, 1997-2002.
- Registered as N86FR.
- Flown as USAF/Skyblazers/31201/FU-201.
F86 LLC, Coconut Grove, FL, 2003-2005.
- Flown as USAF/Skyblazers/31201/FU-201.
Plans have been submitted to Warrington Borough Council’s planning department for permission to build the monument at Omega. The sculpture, which at 22.8 metres would be larger than the Angel of the North near Newcastle, is earmarked for the centre point of Mountpark roundabout, within Omega South on Skyline Drive next to the M62. The highlight of the art piece would be an iconic WWII American aircraft, the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, which would be illuminated and bathed in WW2 searchlights at night.
While the Burtonwood Rehabilitation program was welcomed by all, a few have fully appreciated and made use of the improvements are more than Stubby. Stubby pays no Taxes, no dues to the NCO or officers club, has never been known to buy anyone a drink, but is welcomed everywhere. Stubby is an ordinary backyard variety of a dog. The only outstanding feature about him is that he has only three legs, and this is not a natural phenomenon. Back in February 1949, Stubby, then known as Fido or hey you or something, was brought to the base dispensary with a badly mangled right hind leg. A Veterinarian might have thrown in his syringe and ordered an Execution for the little dog's own good.
Still, the Doctor on duty was used to working on human beings, on whom mercy executions are taboo. He administered an Anaesthetic and proceeded to amputate the injured Leg. Stubby came out of the Anaesthetic feeling the call of nature, and it was when he accosted a nearby tree that he discovered his fate. After the initial shock, the little Mongrel quickly put his canine ingenuity to work.
To his delight, he discovered the airbase's Bus system and through this medium, he found that there was more than one mess hall on the airbase. If he didn't like what Site 2 was serving, he could hop on a bus to Site 5. In short order, Stubby learned all the Bus stops and was soon known to everyone. An article in the wing newspaper introduced him to the British press, who promptly tagged him an arithmetician [drop one and carry three]. A newspaper that specializes in hatchet murders, in mind and spirit, with the rest of the airbase. Sex and Dogs sent a reporter and photographer out to do a feature on him. Stubby could not be found. In succeeding weeks, official base photographers tried to capture him on film, but each time he was seen A bus would appear and take off with Stubby aboard. Not long ago, he was seen near the headquarters, and an NCO was dispatched to capture him.
A bus appeared and hauled him away, as usual, but the NCO managed to overtake the bus. Stubby refused to get off, but the enterprising sergeant cannily removed the pups lady friend, a long-haired brown little bitch, and Stubby followed.
In the office, the only way they could get Stubby to pose was to hide his lady friend under a low desk. By this means, the three-legged pup was finally recorded on GI film. Since that time, he has continued his daily rounds of the four air bases' mess halls. Stubby is never obnoxious and never tries to force your attention toward him. Unless you speak to him first, he will pass you by. A friendly word, and he comes to you with tail wagging, it used to be amusing to see a bus stop and nobody get on or off except Stubby. No one knows how the little dog knows the bus stops or just when to get off. There is only one recorded incident where Stubby showed up for sick call one morning with a side injury, someone had kicked him so the wing veterinarian reported. He gave Stubby a shot of penicillin and marked him in quarters. When the pup felt better, he hobbled off again. From the service point of view, he is the ranking dog on the air base. He has seen all the changes on the air base, from the mud and the muck, the roar of airlift planes, the rise and fall in personnel strength, to complete rehabilitation. He has taken it all in stride on three legs, he seems to have crown healthier in mind and spirit with the rest of the air base.
A new road on the residential part of Omega has been named in memory of Major Frederic A Borsodi, USAAF, who tragically died whilst flying an experimental jet plane over Burtonwood airbase in January 1945. Borsodi Boulevard is set to be officially unveiled on May 26th as part of a Burtonwood airbase reunion event. The new ‘R3’ spine road through the residential part of Omega, extending from the signal-controlled junction at Burtonwood Road / Kingswood Road, down to the Green Heart) is being named ‘Borsodi Avenue’ in memory of the American WW2 Test Pilot who died towards the end of the war whilst flying an experimental jet plane. Although built, the road is not yet open to the public. To coincide with this year’s Burtonwood Association reunion, an official opening ceremony is proposed for Thursday, 26 May.
Major Frederic A. Borsodi (November 4, 1916 – December 28, 1945) entered US Army Air Corps service in Connecticut and served from 1941 to 1943 as a second lieutenant in the African, Sicilian, and Italian campaigns, completing 130 missions as a P-40 pilot. His flying experience with the P-40 in the Mediterranean area probably formed his basis of comparison of the Bf 109G-6/trop and the US Army Air Forces fighters. He became chief of fighter testing from 1943-45 at Wright Field in Ohio. He was the first man to witness the compressibility shock wave on an aircraft wing while diving a P-51 plane from 40,000 feet.
On January 28, 1945, when testing YP-80A Shooting Star 43-83026, the engine exploded and the aircraft crashed approx three miles west of Burtonwood airfield, pilot, Major Borsodi was killed and the aircraft completely destroyed. This aircraft was the first US jet-propelled fighter and one of two jets on the field. Both planes had received a first flight check; this plane crashed during a routine second flight. As a result, the YP-80A was temporarily grounded. Had he survived WWII, he would almost certainly have been a candidate to fly the Bell X-1 and be the first man to exceed the speed of sound.
Major Borsodi is buried at the US Military Cemetery at Cambridge: Plot C, Row 4 Grave 73. His awards were: Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters.
