USAAF
(RAF)
Burtonwood
(Cheshire/Lancashire)


Aerial Image
of USAAF
Burtonwood on
the 10th of
August 1945 by
541 Squadron

Overlay of
1955 USAF
Burtonwood
Airfield Plan
On Top of 2015
Google Aerial
View

Landing
Charts

Landing
Charts

World
War 2 Photo
Looking West
In the
background the
J type hangar
on
technical site
can clearly be
seen
In the
background to
the right is
the 3 earthed
covered
hangars next
to the high
level water
towerer on E
site
In the
foreground is
the east
perimeter
track

All
our photos that
we took in the
RAF Burtonwood
Airfield .
For
more information
about RAF
Burtonwood visit
the RAF
Burtonwood
Archive on the
'Airfield
Findings' page.
Where
is it?
RAF
Burtonwood is
just outside the
town of
Warrington.
What
is it?
RAF
Burtonwood was
an expansion
programme
airfield. It was
constructed as
an aircraft
storage and
repair depot.
What
were the main
sites?
There
were 5 main
sites on the
airfield :
A
site with 2 K
type hangers,
E
site with 3 L
type hangers,
G
site with 3 L
type hangers,
Tech
site with 1 K
type hanger and
1 J type,
and
Mary Anne site
with 3 C type
hangars.
There
was also a site
off the airfield
known as BRD
site, it was
constructed as a
factory.
What
about the
Runways?
There
was 3 runways at
RAF Burtonwood :
04/22
was 4200 FT
long,
09/27
was 5280 FT
long,
and
15/33 that was
4248 FT long
What
about the Sub
sites?
There
were also 7 sub
sites for living
accommodation.
Site
8 Header house
was opened in
1954 as a
warehouse.
What
about the
Control
towers?
There
were 3 control
towers :
One
was a fort type
207/36 and was
made of
concrete.
Another
one was a watch
office for all
commands. Its
reference number
is : 12779/41,
it had small
windows to
15371/41
The
last one was a
post war USAF
tower.
Can
you give us
some Brief
History about
RAF
Burtonwood?
The
airfield first
opened on April
1940, with 37
maintenance unit
moving in .
The
USAAF moved in
on the 15th July
1942 and was
called Base Air
Depot 1 for
repair and
modification of
aircraft.
The
airfield
returned to RAF
use on June
1946.
Controll
was handed back
to the USAF in
September 1948.
In
1951 the USAF
expanded the
base with
extensions of
runway 09 / 27
to 9000 FT and
250 FT wide , a
new controll
tower was
constructed in
1953 on Tech
Site.
What
is RAF Butonwood
like now?
RAF
Burtonwood is
now completely
demolished apart
from taxi ways
between E and A
sites and the
odd bit of
fencing.
WWII
USAAF BAD1
Burtonwood
Trench Art
From One of
Our Members
Early
this week we
received an
email from one
of our members
and he told us
about an
aluminium sign
that he says was
made from WWII
aircraft alloy
that he has in
his possession.
So
we asked him to
send us a photo
of the item and
he has given us
permission to
publish it along
with his message
below.
"Hello
Sir ,
I'm Nigel , and
I've just spent
a good while
perousing your
great website.
Very interesting
.
I write Sir
,because I have
a nice item from
the old
Burtonwood
Airfield.
It's a Sign
basically or the
raised elements
from said sign.
It's
made from
scrapped USAAF
Aircraft
Aluminium that
much we know ,
it features a
B-17 in semi
profile the
wings and star
of the USAAF and
banner logo with
the legend "Base
Air Depot No1"
all as seperate
parts and is
roughly sand
cast made
locally on base
the whole
assembly is
around 2-3 feet
square .
I have the parts
mounted on a
piece of felt
covered MDF just
for display now,
but would love
to know if You
might know where
abouts on the
airfield it was
originally?
We've
had it a long
time.
And
I'm keen to know
a little more
about it if
possible .
I'd
be glad to send
photos if you'd
be interested in
seeing it .
Many
thanks for Your
Time Sir, and
Very best
regards Nigel."

This is a
Souvenir
Poster From
One of the
Many Open Days
at the
Header House
at Burtonwood
During the US
Army's
Occupation

Boeing
B17E - 41-9175
on the 16th of
March 1943
with 'A' site
in the
background.
Photo USAAF

P38
Lockheed
Lightning
During
Maintenance

P38
Lockheed
Lightning
During
Maintenance


P-38 Lightning
Maintenance
Burtonwood
England

P-51 Mustangs
Lancashire
England 25th
of February
1944

B17's
on Dispersal
bell
P-400--Airacobra
at Burtonwood
on the 16th
march 1943.
The
aircraft
appears to be
on Site 1
facing South.

Famous
visitors to
visit the base
included:
Comedian Bob
Hope and
Singers
Bing Crosby
and Nat King
Cole, Vera Lyn
& Joe Loss
and also Major
Glen Miller
the famous
USAAF Band
leader
Left To Right
- Major Glenn
Miller at one
of his
concerts with
Love Dust on
the 27th of
July 1944 at
Burtonwood.
(Photo USAAF)

Left
To Right - Joe
Loss, Vera
Lynn and Major
Glen Miller
outside
Building
226 on Mary
Ann Site
during a
concert visit
on the 15th of
August 1944.
Shortly after
this photo was
taken Glen
Miller flew to
Twinwood farm
in
Bedfordshire
and then onto
Paris.
However, his
aircraft never
arrived
at Paris
(presumably)
having crashed
in the English
Channel.
(Photo by
Wally Baldwin)

Burtonwood
- Bob Hope
Show, 28 Aug
1943
(Photo From
The American
Air Museum in
Britain -
Ray Zimmerman
Collection via
Aldon
Ferguson)

Burtonwood
- Bob Hope
Show, 28 Aug
1943
(Photo From
The American
Air Museum in
Britain -
Ray Zimmerman
Collection via
Aldon
Ferguson)

Burtonwood
- Bob Hope
Show, 28 Aug
1943
(Photo From
The American
Air Museum in
Britain -
Ray Zimmerman
Collection via
Aldon
Ferguson)

Burtonwood
- Basket Ball
Team 14 Apl
1943
(Photo From
The American
Air Museum in
Britain -
Ray Zimmerman
Collection via
Aldon
Ferguson)

Burtonwood
- names of
Basket ball
team (above)
(Photo From
The American
Air Museum in
Britain -
Ray Zimmerman
Collection via
Aldon
Ferguson)

The Dining
Room of the
USAAF 27th Air
Transport
Group 8th Air
Force Service
Command.

The
group served
at Burtonwood
from 1943 to
May 1945
& carried
cargo and
passengers
within Great
Britain.
In February
1945 the group
assumed
additional
missions of
ferrying all
types of
aircraft to
and from
Burtonwood for
maintenance,
repair and
modification.
The
aircraft, once
repaired etc
where then
ferried back
to the front
line
airfields.
27th Air
Transport
Group Units
assigned to
BAD 1.
302nd
Transport
Wing, 8th Air
Force Service
Command
310th, 311th,
312th Ferry
Squadron's
320th, 321st
Air Transport
Squadrons

Colonel I W
Ott (in the
Centre of the
photo) of Base
Air Depot 1
(BAD1)
Commander From
the 6th of
March 1944 to
the end of
Hostilities.
Colonel I W
Ott Was Later
Promoted to
General.
Far
left is Col
Billy Arnold
Head of
Maintenance.

Thanks
to Aldon
Ferguson and
Also Herbert
Anastor
(Feature
Writer of Area
Auto Racing
News) for the
following
info:
A
David Loska
has also been
working on the
infrastructure
of BADA and
BAD#1 at
Burtonwood
during World
War II and
came up with
the narrative
below about
Bill Arnold,
which reflects
your own
research.
The
Officer in the
centre of the
photo you post
is Brig Gen
Isaac 'Ike'
Ott who had
overall
responsibility
for ALL 8th
Air Force
supply and
maintenance
and this
expanded to
providing
aircraft and
equipment to
the 9th Air
Force which
was the
occupational
USAAF element
in Europe
after the June
1944 invasion.
He was based
at Burtonwood.
Ike's
cousin, Col
'Dewey' Ott,
was Chief of
Flight Test. I
knew him well
and he always
spoke in
glowing terms
of the
achievements
of both Ike
and Billy in
England during
the War.
Lt
Col Billy
Arnold, Chief
of the
Maintenance
Division was
uniquely
experienced at
leading both
of the
mainland depot
operations
having
transferred
from Warton to
Burtonwood 15
Feb 1944.
Arnold?s
Maintenance
Division
Weekly
Activity
Reports to HQ
BADA, never
missed an
opportunity to
highlight base
or
intra-theatre
production
record-breaking
metrics and
output.
Arnold?s
unique
origin and
technical
background
made him
unusually
adept to the
rigours and
undaunting
pace of depot
operations.
Before joining
the Army, a
week after the
attacks at
Pearl Harbor,
Arnold earned
a PhD from
Michigan Tech
and was
employed as an
engineer for
the Chrysler
Corporation.
Years
earlier,
Arnold took up
car racing
after studying
for a
baccalaureate
in mechanical
engineering at
the University
of Illinois.
Between years
1930 and 1932,
Arnold led
almost every
lap he raced
at the
Indianapolis
500.
In
1930 at age
24, Arnold
became the
first to win
the 2.5-mile
Indianapolis
Motor Speedway
in under 5
hours and the
first to
finish at a
greater than
100 mph
average speed
without relief
help.
He
also led all
but the first
two laps of
the around
the
race,
198 out of 200
or 99% of the
total laps
(back then it
was
brick-paved),
a record and
metric that
has yet to be
surpassed even
to the day of
this writing.
In
addition,
he was also
the American
Automobile
Association's
National
Champion for
1930.
This
farm (below in
the photo) was
called 'Brook
House farm'
and was built
before the
airfield at
USAAF
Burtonwood was
constructed,
and when the
American's
took
occupation of
the base it
became General
Isaac W Ott's
personal
residence.
He
was the base
Commander and
the farmhouse
was sited what
became known
as site 6
which was
the communal
living site
and it was
also where
'The Flight
Test Crew's'
where
billeted.

Here
is what was
written on the
back of the
photo:
"The general's
house, the
back of it at
that compare
it with those
shacks in the
other
pictures. I
should have
been a
general."

Letter
From the
Deputy Chief
of Staff War
Department to
General Ott

From
the Bangor
Daily News,
Bangor, by
John Connel Jr
managing
editor,
reporting
at the USAAF
Air depot
station 590
Burtonwood
Lancashire
England 12th
of August 1944
The
greatest air
depot in the
world sounds
like a lot of
air depot,
doesn't it?
well, that's
just what it
is and there
isn't the
slightest
chance of
exaggeration,
criticism or
fear of
contradiction
when one
speaks this
way of the
place from
which I have
just returned.
it is a
heartening
sight for an
American to
see the vast
system of
field hangars,
shops and
warehouses--
the nerve
centre of the
Air service
commands
network
throughout the
European
Theatre of
operation--and
to watch and
hear the
display of air
striking power
that we have
already
demonstrated
the enemy will
never be able
to match.
Over a month
would be
required to
see it all,
reams of paper
would be used
in attempting
to tell the
whole story of
this
stupendous
overseas
project and
even then, to
the average
layman, it
would be too
fantastic to
believe.
The pity of it
all, so little
of what's
going on here
can be told
even now when
our air power
definitely has
the enemy
groggy.
Over 100,000
American
soldiers have
already passed
through this
tremendous
depot and many
thousands of
skilled
workers-- many
of them
completely
trained since
they entered
the armed
services will
someday be
returning to
tell the story
of the base
air depot of
the air
service
command.
There are a
large number
of sub-depots
scatted in
places many
miles away for
witch this
mighty depot
is responsible
for I saw
planes, fresh
from the
factories of
America on the
runways, in
the hangars
and in the
adjoining
parking lots.
Here at this
depot, all the
planes receive
their final
attention
before taking
off in search
of the enemy
or to do
damage to
installations
of war; I was
told that just
prior to D-day
there were
thousands of
more planes
here. it
doesn't seem
to be
possible.
I never saw so
many planes at
any one time
or in one
place ever.
When a new
plane arrives
the protective
sea covering
is ripped off,
wings and the
fuselages are
painted other
skilled men go
to work on
modifications
of the plane.
Yes, it's
still a new
plane, perhaps
not six months
out of the
factory.
But, from
every fighting
theatre
changes are
continually
being demanded
in planes.
There wouldn't
be time to
have these
made in
America. it
might disrupt
the whole
assembly Line
there.
Sometimes they
are major
jobs. but,
every time
they're
important.
conditions
peculiar to
the area to
which the
plane is going
dictate the
needs.
After the
planes have
passed through
inspection
they are
turned over to
the test
pilots for the
next
operation.
P-38
Locheed
Lightning
Maintenance
Bangor
daily news,
newspaper
report August
13th 1944 part
2
Several
thousand men
carrying mess
kits and
marching in
chow time
formation
three or four
abreast-are on
the way to
dinner at
close to
midnight.
that's one
more of the
unusual sights
you will see
at the great
air services
command depot
1.
The men at
these bases
work in two,
10-hour shifts
for at least
20 hours every
day the
greatest mass
production job
that has ever
been
undertaken by
American
engineers
grinds out new
parts, repairs
the worn out
and damaged
and does
everything
else necessary
to keep our
Air force
supreme.
At times when
it is
essential to
do more than
the regular
day or nights
work it is not
unusual to
find every man
and officer in
the depot
command
working from
16 to 20 hours
at a stretch.
When figures
are
permissible
and the
history of
this project
is written
[already
done--Ed it
will surpass
anything
within reach
of the
imagination of
mankind.
The men at
this base work
nights for one
month and days
the next,
alternating.
After writing
yesterday's
article I
tried to think
of some way to
impress upon
Maine people
the size of
the main depot
for air
service
command.
The huge
gymnasium at
the University
of Maine came
to mind. If I
recall
correctly when
this was built
it was one of
the three
largest in the
country. Well,
one of about a
dozen
buildings at
this base
could still
house a few
Flying
Fortresses
after the
University
Gymnasium had
been put in
one end of the
building.
Concrete
aisles- about
the width of
some of our
streets and
continuing on
from the roads
outside-run
through the
buildings from
the ends and
the sides.
Others have
tremendous
doors which
open to either
side and
permit any
size of an
aeroplane to
be taxied in,
to or three
abreast if
necessary.
Yesterday we
walked up and
down the
length of one
building-over
1,200 feet
long and
nearly half as
wide-and saw
mass
production at
its best.
Every man has
one job to do
in this
particular
building.
A huge motor
enters at one
end of the
building for
overhauling,
it is taken
down on an
assembly line
and when it
reaches the
middle of the
building it
has been
completely
disassembled.
Every part is
checked,
repaired or
replaced and
then the motor
moves along
and each man
has one new
operation to
complete.
It keeps
moving along
and when it
reaches the
other end of
the building
it is ready
for packing
and loading on
to freight
cars which are
there waiting
to take it to
sub-depots in
the European
Theatre.
Behind all
this great
setup here is
Brigadier
General Isaac
W Ott's
magnificent
leadership,
the highly
trained
aircraft
engineers he
has gathered
around him and
the efforts of
thousands of
air service
command
mechanics and
technicians
assigned to
the jobs.
General Ott
has risen from
the ranks of
Army flyers,
he was an
engineering
officer, a
test pilot and
a group
commander
before he was
given the job
of organising
this network
of American
air depots in
the United
Kingdom.
Chief of
maintenance at
the depot and
in charge of
this end of
work for the
whole setup is
Lieutenant
Colonel
William H
Arnold-to
those outside
the
military,''
BILLY'' Arnold
Indianapolis
speedway
champion.
Testimony of
the success of
Arnold's work
thus far lies
in the fact
that aircraft
modification
and repair
records of
every kind
have been
broken over
and over
again.
In the few
minutes that
Col Arnold
took from his
busy job to
accompany us
around two of
the main
projects in
his plant, we
saw at least
two more
records that
will be
shattered
again this
month. The
results of the
first 10 days
of this month
indicate that
a new record -
over 1,200
plane engines
overhauled-will
be chalked up
for August.
There are
14,292 parts
in an aircraft
engine, a
minimum of 200
engines are
kept on the
line at all
times to keep
production at
a normal
level, is
there any
wonder that
General Ott
was the
recipient of
the Legion of
merit award.
Consolidated
B-24 Liberator
on P.S.P.
(Pierced Steel
Planking)
Dispersal.

August
14 1944
Ships of every
description
from tiny
observation
planes to
Thunderbolts,
Fortresses and
Liberators,
fast fighters
and huge
transports
climb and dive
at this base
which sees the
heaviest air
traffic in the
world.
We have been
writing about
this depot
located in
Northern
England for
several days
because there
isn't any
other place
where more is
being done to
win this war
right here.
We just can't
seem to stop
thinking and
talking about
the Air Force
soldiers -men
bent over
mortars,
damaged plane
bodies and
tail
assemblies-who,
without all
the fanfare of
shining
buttons and
knobby
uniforms, keep
the planes in
the air.
We have always
known that for
every ''hot''
pilot there
must be 21 of
these unsung
heroes on the
ground working
frantically to
keep him hot
but never
until now have
we seen their
reasons.
With Lieut D S
Roper,
assistant to
Lt Col William
Arnold, the
maintenance
chief, we have
been
privileged to
see things
during the
past few days
that must be
kept a dark
secret until
the final
chapter of
this war is
completed.
There will be
a day when all
America will
gasp at some
of the things
that have been
done and are
being done
every day at
this depot.
There is one
ASC depot that
is called the
''Willow run
of the
European
theatre
operations''
we have seen
it and it has
its own GI
operated
railroad with
three king
size engines
and all the
necessary
equipment.
During our
inspection, we
saw everything
that can be
manufactured
for an
aeroplane
either made or
being made.
Even rubber
Lifebelts,
life- rafts,
parachutes,
flares, water
containers and
some clothing
needs are
among the more
than 200,000
items of
aircraft
supplied and
handled
through an
aircraft base
depot.
Some time ago
this base put
a number of
cracked up
Fortresses
back into the
air in nine
weeks. A few
have in lately
that were
pretty
damaged. We
looked a
little
perplexed as
the Colonel
explained that
''those ships
will be back
on the line
soon''.
Then we were
reminded that
the ''Dotty
j'', which
made an
emergency
landing some
time ago was
brought into
this depot to
be condemned.
It had 389
bullet and
flak holes in
the fuselage
and tail. It
came into the
depot on two
engines and
none of the
crew expected
it could be
repaired.
It
was repaired,
turned over to
a mobile unit
and put back
into flying
condition.
Before I
report on some
more Maine
boys I found
at this depot
I want to
speak for one
order that was
received here
just before
D-Day that
shows how this
unit operates.
Not more than
a week before
D-Day, the
base received
orders for
80,000 paint
brushes and
37,000 gallons
of black and
white paint.
This meant
some hustling
around, there
was no time to
contact
America.Every
source was
checked, one
British firm
was able to
furnish a good
part of the
order and then
the balance
was gathered
up here, there
and
everywhere,
the order was
filled.
As a result,
every American
airplane used
in the
invasion on
D-Day had a
new and easily
distinguishable
black and
white marking
on the belly
and wings of
the aircraft.
This
was to aid our
own troops in
identification.
B.R.D.
Airframe
Erection
Workshop

August
15, 1944
After seeing
from the air
and ground the
greatest Air
service
Command Depot
in the world
and writing
several
articles on it
and its
personnel, I
shook hands
with a Bangor
boy, Charles F
Guild Jr, bade
goodbye to him
and a public
relations
officer who
had
accompanied me
to the
airplane
stepped into a
giant C-47 and
was on my way.
In the few
days that I
have been
here, I have
seen new
inventions -
some already
in operation,
others still a
mystery not
only to our
enemies but
also to our
own people -
the new radio
devices, the
latest
modifications
in bombers and
fighters and I
have given a
birdseye view
of Great
Britain turned
into a
veritable
fortress of
air- power
with the
largest
American
contingent, as
Mr Churchill
himself
revealed some
time ago -
being
American.
As I take off
I am thinking
of an
expression I
heard while at
the depot
''The
impossible
things we do
quickly, the
miracles take
a little
longer''.
No words tell
more nearly
the story of
what General
Ott, Lt Col
Arnold and
their corps of
assistants and
workers are
doing at the
Base Air Depot
of the Air
Service
Command.
|
The
Badge of the
8th Air Force
WW2

The Emblem
(Roundal) of
The Royal Air
Force

Burtonwood
Airfield 2 miles
west of the town
of Warrington
was ideally
suited being
nearby to the
industries of
Manchester and
Warrington &
also close to
Liverpool docks
and the main
line railway.
The
site was
selected in 1938
as a decision
made in 1936 to
build aircraft
repair depots
(ARD) with
engine repair
depots in the
expansion
periods inner
war Years.
Building
work began in
1938 with no 37
maintenance unit
Royal Air Force
moving in on the
1st of April
1940. On the
11th of June
1942 USAAF
arrived. The
USAAF were
handed complete
control of the
air depot. Work
began on the
construction of
6 large
warehouse
workshops with a
total of 734,000
square feet of
floor space.
Work
also began on an
additional
aircraft parking
apron at a cost
of approximately
$2,000,000.
By
1944 18,500 US
personnel were
stationed on
Burtonwood being
the largest
USAAF base in
Europe. The
airfield was now
known as 8th
USAAF base air
depot 1 (BAD1)
station 590,
although an RAF
presence
continued until
1943.
BAD1
became the
centre for
flight testing,
overhaul,
modification and
repair of all
USAAF aircraft
in Europe in
World War 2.
30,386
aircraft engines
were overhauled
and over 11,500
aircraft
processed
between 1943 and
1945.
Celebrities
to visit the
base were film
actor James
Cagney, Bing
Crosby, Bob
Hope, Vera Lynn
and Glenn
Miller.
By
April 1945 the
base contained:
2.5
miles of runway
3.5
miles of
perimeter track
4.05
miles of railway
track
18
miles of roadway
1,823
buildings (total
area of the
buildings and
all that is
listed above =
1,253 acres)
4,006,
852 square feet
of covered
facilities for
supply and
storage,
workshops and
technical
operations
7,096,181
square feet of
open facilities
Total
value =
$50,000,000
Living
site
accommodation
for 18,063
personnel. By
1958 the base
motor pool
carried
25,000,000
passengers
covering
11,000,000
miles,
23,381,200
gallons of
petrol was
consumed.
6,500
American's
married English
girls. The base
at this time
contained:
13
hangars
22
warehouses
1,054
nissan huts
18
miles of surface
roadway covering
an area of
3,535,990 square
feet, 16.85
miles of
fencing, with a
total acres of
1,471 and
3,940,740 square
feet of aircraft
parking apron.
The
airfield had the
standard 3
runway RAF
Layout.
Runway
04/22
4,200 feet long
Runway
15/33
4,248 feet long
Runway
09/27
5,280 feet long
and was later
(in January
1953) extended
to 9,000 feet by
250 feet wide by
the USAF
3
x control towers
were built.
The
first was on
Mary Ann Site
and was a fort
type built of
concrete to AM
(Air Ministry)
drawing number
207/36. This
tower was
demolished due
to bad
visibility of
the main runway
and the 2nd to
be built was
'watch office'
for all commands
and was built to
AM drawing
number 12779/41
with small
windows to
15371/41 to the
main runway at
techsite.
The
3rd control
tower was the 80
feet high USAF
tower next to
the 'J' type
hangar on tech
site built in
1953.
Airfield
Hangar Sites.
The
airfield had 5
main hangar
sites.
Mary
Ann Site had 3
'C' type hangars
and 2 large
storage
workshops.
Technical
Site had 1 'J'
type and 1 'K'
type hangars.
'G'
Site had 3 'L'
type hangars, 3
bellman hangars
and 2 storage
workshops.
'E'
Site had 3 'L'
type hangars.
'A'
Site had 2 'K'
type hangars.
Also,
20 'robin
hangars' were
dispersed around
the airfield.
BRD
Site
(Burtonwood
Repair Depot)
A
factory site was
also built off
Burtonwood Road
and was known as
BRD Site. It was
erected in 1939
and occupied in
1940 under the
control of the
air ministry
(NOT the RAF).
It
was later taken
over by the
ministry of
aircraft
production (MAP)
and in 1942
transferred to
the USAAF.
Living
Quarters
On
site living
quarters were
constructed on 6
sites built from
the 1st of
November to the
31st of December
1943.
The
buildings were
mostly nissen
and gerrard type
huts and
temporary brick
rendered finish.
Also, additional
off site living
quarters were
taken over at
Bruce Hall &
Canada Hall east
of Warrington.
The Americans
were taken to
and from
Burtonwood in
military trucks
each day.
After
WW2 Bruce Hall
& Canada
Hall were never
required again
by the military.
Bruce Hall
became a police
training college
and Canada Hall
became the site
of Padgate
teachers
training
college.
Post
World War 2
Scotia North,
and ex Royal
Navy camp at
Lowton near
Leigh was opened
in September
1950 to provide
additional
accommodation
for servicemen
and their
dependants.
Also
another ex Royal
Naval camp was
taken over by
the RAF called
RAF Croft at
Lady Lane near
Warrington. The
site became
tenanted by the
USAF in 1955 as
a processing
point for
military
personnel when
Burtonwood was
assigned the
additional
function of
Military Air
Transport
Services (MATS)
terminal for
passenger
flights between
the United
States and the
United Kingdom.
United
States Army
Air Force
units assigned
to Burtonwood
during
WW2
Satellite
Stations &
Associated
Bases (To
Burtonwood) in
WW2
As
well as the 8th
army air force,
Burtonwood was
also responsible
for the support
of the 9th, 12th
and 15th army
air forces in
WW2. 18,500
personnel worked
on the base and
an additional
37,545 personnel
worked on sub
sites, depots,
satellite
stations and
associated bases
throughout the
United Kingdom
for which BAD1
Burtonwood was
responsible for.
Al
these sub sites
had unit code
names, but these
were normally
used for
telecommunications
only. However,
each United
States Army Air
Force location
was identified
by a station
number. These
stations are
listed in the
list below:
Army
Air Forces
Station Number
Assigned.
|
The
Official Name
of The
Installation.
|
Location
of County.
|
Principal
Unit(s)
Assigned To
The
Installation. |
127
|
Little
Staughton
|
Bedfordshire
|
Advanced
Air Depot For
1st Bomb Wing
|
158 |
Sudbury |
Staffordshire |
Signal Storage
Depot |
169 |
Stansted |
Essex |
Detachment 'K'
Supply
Division
Tactical Air
Depot |
237 |
Greencastle |
County Down
Northern
Ireland |
496 Fighter
Group, 12
Combat Crew
Replacement
Centre |
362 |
Ford |
Sussex |
2 - Detachment
14 Fighter
Group |
375 |
Honington |
Suffolk |
Advanced Depot |
446 |
Taunton |
Somerset |
Detachment
Ordnance
Supply
Division Base
Air Depot 1 -
Supply Depot |
473 |
Bristol |
Gloucestershire
(in WW2) |
1512 Quarter
Masters Truck
Battalion |
502 |
Tostock Park |
Suffolk |
1516 Quarter
Masters Truck
Battalion
Combat Support
Wing |
513 |
Liverpool
Docks, Kirby
House,
Silcocks
Warehouse |
Lancashire (in
WW2) |
Port
Intransit,
Depot 1, Base
Air Depot Area
(BADA) |
514 |
Kirkby |
Lancashire (in
WW2) |
Warehouse
Site, Port
Intransit,
Depot 2, Base
Air Depot Area
(BADA) |
515 |
Warley Common |
Gloucestershire |
Port Transit
Depot 3. Base
Air Depot Area
(BADA) |
516 |
St Mellons |
Monmouthsire
Wales |
Port Transit
Depot 4. Base
Air Depot Area
(BADA) |
517 |
Barnham
(Little Heath
Site) |
Suffolk |
754 Chemical
Depot Company
(Aviation).
765 Chemical
Depot Company
(Aviation). |
520 |
Melton Mowbray |
Leicestershire |
1720 Ordnance
Munition
Company. 1961
Ordnance Depot
Company. 1962
Ordnance Depot
Company. V111
Air Force
Service
Command. |
521 |
Braybrooke |
Northamptonshire |
2107 Ordnance
Battalion
Aviation |
522 |
Smethwick |
Staffordshire |
892 Signal
Depot Company.
908 Signal
Company.
Signal Supply
Base Depot 1 |
524 |
Southport
(Sunnyside
Hotel) |
Lancashire |
8 (BADA 1)
Base Air Depot
Area. |
526 |
Bures |
Essex |
2108 Ordnance
Ammunition
Battalion
Aviation
Special |
527 |
Leicester |
Leicestershire |
Detachment -
892 Signal
Depot Company |
530 |
Haydock Park |
Lancashire |
Base Air Depot
Area - Combat
Support Wing -
Detachment L
Supply
Division. |
541 |
Risley |
Bedfordshire |
756 Chemical
Depot - 763
Chemical
Depot. V111
Air Force
Service
Command. |
545 |
Earsham |
Norfolk |
1916 Ordnance
Ammunition
Company
Aviation. 2217
Quarter Master
Truck Company
Aviation. |
549 |
Nascot Lodge
Watford |
Hertfordshire |
Headquarters
Combat Support
Wing
Provisional.
1584
Quartermasters
Battalion
Mobile
Aviation. |
550 |
William Strip
Park |
Gloucestershire |
2106 Ordnance
Ammunition
Battalion. |
552 |
Huyton |
Lancashire
(WW2) |
1511
Quartermasters
Truck Regiment
- Air Service
Command. |
564 |
Egginton |
Derbyshire |
Headquarters
1519 Quarter
Masters
Battalion
Mobile
Aviation. |
571 |
Poynton |
Cheshire |
Station
Compliment
Squadron -
2189 Quarter
Masters Truck
Company
Aviation - 304
Gas Defence
Attachment. |
572 |
Melchbourne
Park |
Bedfordshire |
Ordnance Auto
Motive Depot -
Base Air Depot
Area. |
581 |
Wortley |
Yorkshire |
1912 Ordnance
Ammunition
Company - 2002
Ordnance
Ammunition
Company. |
582 |
Warton |
Lancashire |
Base Air Depot
2 (BAD 2) |
583 |
Sharnbrook |
Bedfordshire |
2107 Ordnance
Ammunition
Battalion |
587 |
Barnham
(Warren Woods
Site) |
Suffolk |
2106 Ordnance
Battalion
Aviation -
V111 Air Force
Service
Command |
590 |
Burtonwood |
Lancashire |
Main
Headquarters
Base Air Depot
1 (BAD1) |
592 |
Groveley Wood |
Wiltshire |
1925 - 1927 -
and 1929
Ordnance
Company
Aviation -
Combat Wing |
597 |
Langford Lodge |
County Antrim
Northern
Ireland |
Base Air Depot
3 (BAD 3) |
802 |
Baverstock
(Dinton) |
Wiltshire |
Base Air Depot
4 (BAD 4) |
375 |
Honington |
Suffolk |
Advanced Depot |
---------- |
Aintree |
Lancashire |
Detachment A,
1960 Ordnance
Depot Company
Aviation -
Base Air Depot
Area. |
---------- |
Cardiff Docks
|
Glamorgan |
Detachment D,
Supply
Division. |
---------- |
Barry Docks |
Glamorgan |
Detachment
Supply
Division. |
---------- |
Glasgow Docks |
Scotland |
Army Air Force
Detachment G
Maintenance
Division -
Detachment N
Supply
Division. |
---------- |
St Morgan |
Cornwall |
Detachment N
Supply
Division |
After
WW2
After
the defeat of
Germany the
USAAF started
to clear the
air base up
ready to hand
it back over
to the RAF.
The USAAF
decided it
would be
cheaper to
scrap all
aircraft and
spares on site
rather than
ship it all
back to the
United States.
Aircraft
flew from
bases all over
the United
Kingdom into
Burtonwood to
be scrapped in
this way. This
work was so
big of a job
that the USAAF
were still at
Burtonwood in
1946.
A
cold grey misty
day at RAF
Burtonwood
at
the end of the
war in Europe.
B-17s
awaiting
scrapping
photo.
B-17s being
broken up for
scrap.
The
hangars and
warehouses
contained
16,187 tons of
stock valued
at
$120,000,000
which was
handed over to
the British.
On the the
25th of May
1946 BAD1 AAF
Station 590
was the last
airfield in
the UK to be
handed over to
the RAF.
The
Americans had
left but would
be back within
2 years.
In
January 1946
No. 276 RAF
Maintenance
unit was
formed even
though the
Americans
cleaning up
parties were
still there.
Berlin
Airlift

During the cold
war, the Soviets
union blocked
the western
allies railway,
road, and canal
access to the
sectors of
Berlin under
Western control
stoping supplies
reaching the
people of West
Berlin.
RAF Burtonwood
played an
essential part
in the Berlin
airlift by
carrying out
200-hour
maintenance
checks on 2
engined C-47s
but mostly on
C-54 Skymaster 4
engined
transport
aircraft of the
USAF.
The Airlift
flights started
on 26 June 1948
and continued
until September
1949.
The transport
aircraft
supplied over
two million
people of West
Berlin with
fuel, water,
medicine,
clothing, and
food.
Allied aircraft
took off or
landed in west
Berlin evry 30
Seconds, US
aircrews made
more than
189,000 flights
totaling nearly
600, 000 Flying
hours C-54 s
alone exceeding
92 million miles
By the end of
the airlift, the
transport
aircraft had
flown 300,000
flights and
delivered 2,300,
000 tons of
supplies, as you
can see this is
why the 200-hour
maintenance
checks were so
important.
1,571 Aircraft
were processed
at Burtonwood in
the 18 month
period totaling
over 147,000 man
hours.
When they
arrived they
went to Station
1, Receipt and
Delivery. Here
all loose
equipment was
removed and all
radio equipment.
Station 2 was
the K type
hangars on 'A'
Site used as the
wash rack for
internal and
external
cleaning.

Then
they moved
to the C
types on Mary
Ann Site and
hangars J &
K on Tech Site.
This was known
as Station 3.
This was a
pre-inspection
shakedown,
engine run-up,
all systems
pressure
checked, oil
drained, engine
inspection,
compression
checked, engine
repair, aircraft
general, control
cables, rigging,
spark plus,
electric
systems. fuel
system,
hydraulic
system,
instruments and
prop
maintenance,
undercarriage
and tyre check.
If engine
replacement
needed, done
here. Station 4
was a flight
test or
operation ramp
servicing and
engine run-up.
Station 5 was
the actual test
flight and hand
over to the crew
to fly it back
to Germany.
The USAF
maintenance
crews at
Burtonwood
during the
Berlin airlift
lived up to
there name as
the 8th airforce
did during ww2
before them,
with the MOTTO,
KEEP EM FLYING.
Flight
maintenance
chart
Tonnage
lifted to
Berlin by
British
aircraft: RAF
aircraft:
394,509 tons
Civil
aircraft:
147,727 tons
TOTAL: 542,236
tons
Tonnage
lifted to
Berlin by USAF
aircraft:
1,783,572.7
tons
Total
combined
British and
American
airlift
tonnage:
2,325,508.7
tons
Tonnage
by type:
Type
British
American
Food
241,712.9 tons
296,303.1 tons
Coal
164,799.7 tons
1421,729.6
tons
Military
18,239.1 tons
-
Liquid
fuel 92,282.4
tons 54,540
tons
Miscellaneous
25,201.9
tons -
British
tonnage
exported from
Berlin:
35,843.1 tons
Passengers
lifted to and
from Berlin:
Nationality
To From
British
36,281
131,436
American
24,216 36,584
Total
60,434 165,020
Highest
daily combined
British and
American
tonnage:
12,940.9 tons
on 16 April
1949
Highest
daily British
tonnage:
2,314.5 tons
on 5 July 1949
Highest
daily RAF
tonnage:
1,735.6 tons
on 17 August
1948
Highest
daily British
civil tonnage:
1,009.6 tons
on 22 May 1949
British
aircraft
consumed over
35 million
gallons of
aviation fuel,
flew more than
30 million
miles and
spent more
than 200,000
hours in the
air flying to
and from
Berlin.
The airlift was
not without its
fatalities
101were recorded
killed including
31 Americans
during the
operation mostly
due to crashes.
One such crash
happened on the
7th of January
1949 when C-54
Skymaster 45-543
of the14th
TCS,61st, TCG,
of the united
states airforce,
crashed at stake
house fell in
the forest of
Bowland near
Garstang.
The aircraft had
taken off at
13.12 hours from
the Rhein-main
airforce base
near Frankfurt,
Germany en route
to Burtonwood
for its 200-hour
scheduled
maintenance
service.
The aircraft was
having poor
radio
communication
and encounter
poor weather
conditions over
the north of
England, with
low cloud and
heavy rain.
The last contact
with the
Burtonwood
control tower
was at 16.30
hours,the pilot
was flying blind
estimating his
position by
using his
instruments.
The C-54
Skymaster
drifted off its
intended course
and struck the
southern face of
stake house
fell.
The 4 crew and
2 passengers
were all
killed in the
accident.
Douglas
C-54 Skymaster
crash,
cowlings/
firewalls
parts.
Douglas
C-54 Skymaster
crash, landing
gear part.

Royal
air force Avro
Yorks in West
Germany
awaiting there
turn to taxi
to
the end of the
runway and
take off photo
credit by the
imperial war
museum.

Map of the
occupation
zones and the
air corridors
during the
Berlin
airlift.

Unloading
Douglas C-54
Skymasters in
West Berlin
during
the Airlift
photo credit
by the united
states air
force.

RAF Burtonwood
group photo of
maintenance
personnel
during the
Berlin
airlift.

West Berliners
watch the
airlift at
west berlin.

West
Berliners
watching the
airlift at
Tempelhof
airport at
west berlin.

C-47s AT
Tempelhof
airport Berlin
during the
airlift in
1948.

West
Berliners
watch a
Douglas C-54
Skymaster
landing at
West berlin.

left
to right -
Lynn Johnson
'Miss
Finance',
Joanne
Gladdis, the
new Queen and
third place
winner Joan
Hunt 'Miss
Port
Facilities'.
Joanne Gladdis
also had a
sister who won
the title.

Joanne's
sister Carol
Gladdis became
Miss Club 59
in July 1950
but didn't win
Miss
Burtonwood
that year. The
winner was
Juanita
Mullins, wife
of Lt Bernie C
Mullins.
The
final took
place as part
of the July 4,
1952
celebrations.
10,000 people
attended the
three-day
weekend which
included a
28-float
parade. Over
14,000 hot
dogs were sold
over the
weekend.
Immediately
after the Baby
Show, in which
all
contestants
were
unanimously
awarded
first-place
blue ribbons,
the 'Miss
Burtonwood' of
1952 final
took place.
Joanne Gladdis
won it for the
second year
running. The
judges
included a
British Royal
Navy Commander
from Liverpool
and three from
59th Air Depot
Wing.
Main
Entrance Gate
12 Burtonwood

This was at
Site 2
After
travelling
from the USA
this was the
first port of
call
for every US
service
personnel and
their
families.

The
Badge of The
United States
Air Force

Site
1 During the
USAF
occupation
(NOT the
USAAF)
Site 1 was
situated on
the South Side
of the M62 at
Burtonwood
services (now
demolished).
The
main entrance
was off
Burtonwood
Road.
As you can see
on the photos
below the sign
shows that
this area was
the dependants
housing area.
Dependants
in the USA
call their
children
dependants.

Inside One of
the Dependants
Classrooms on
Site 1 in the
1950's During
the USAF
occupation
(NOT the
USAAF)

Air Forces
European
Exchange Main
Burtonwood
Shopping
Center
(Location
Unknown?)

USAF
Engine
Technicians
Working on a
Radial Engine
in the 1950's.

With
the advent of
the cold war
the Unites
States Air
Force (USAF)
needed a
presence in
Europe and
Burtonwood was
an obvious
choice. In
1948 the USAF
took over
control of the
air base in
time to take
part in the
overhaul and
maintenance of
C54 skymasters
taking part in
the Berlin
airlift.
Each
servicing
taking over
700 man hours.
In 1949 when
the soviet
union backed
down over the
Berlin airlift
the USAF used
Burtonwood as
a primary
stores and
equipment base
for its
European
operations.
On
the 1st of
September 1953
the airbase was
renamed Northern
Air Material
Area (NAMA) and
their mission
was to supply
supplies to the
USAF, Navy &
Army.
Also
(MATS) Military
Air Transport
Services were
responsible for
all operations
involved with
flying. Further
building works
were started in
1951 with the
extension to
runway 09/27 the
main runway to
9,000 feet and
250 feet wide.
The
2 existing
runways 22/04
and 15/33 from
the WW2 days
were used for
parking the WB
50 weather
aircraft on and
as additional
hardstandings.
In 1953 an
additional apron
was constructed
between the
south taxi way
and runway
04/22.
Also
constructed was
a new control
tower and
passenger
terminal.
North
of Mary Ann Site
a new crash fire
station was
built next to
the main runway.
On site 8 a new
warehouse was
constructed in
January 1953 and
opened August
the 16th 1954.
This was to
become known as
header house.
The warehouse
was the largest
in Europe being
1 mile long and
over 3,000,000
square feet and
even had its own
private railway
line connected
to the main
Manchester to
Liverpool main
line.
The
total cost to
build this site
was $12,000,000
and took 20
months to build.
The
airbase was
known as the
gateway to
Europe to the
American
Military
personnel and
their families.
The base was so
large that it
was nicknamed
Lancashire's
Detroit and
little America
by the personnel
stationed there.
After 10 years
of continuous
building works
Burtonwood was
the biggest
military base
outside of the
USA.
By
1959 the USAF
had left
Burtonwood
forever although
the USAF had
several units
there until 1965
and on the 18th
of June 1965
control was
returned to the
RAF.
The
RAF built a 'V'
Bomber dispersal
parking
hardstanding and
was located next
to the downwind
end of the main
runway (runway
27).
4
'V' bombers
would have been
at full
readiness at the
dispersals in
the event of a
Nuclear War.
These dispersals
were built at
many airfields
across the UK
& known as
'scatter bases'.
The
'V' bombers
would disperse
and operate
between these
dispersals
making them
small disperse
targets.
De
Gaulle had quit
NATO and told
the United
States to leave
France. The US
Army's huge
stockpiles in
its stores in
France had
therefore to be
transferred
elsewhere, and
Header house at
Burtonwood was
the ideal place
to transfer it
to.
Burtonwood
Header House
Site 8 - US
Army Storage
Depot

On
January the 2nd
1967 the
Americans (the
United States
Army NOT the
USAF) were back
at Burtonwood
and renamed it
'Burtonwood Army
Depot UK'.
On
the 4th of
January 1982 the
depot was again
renamed HQ47
Area Support
Group UK.
At
the end of the
cold war
Burtonwoods Army
Depot UK was
declared Access
to NATO
requirements
& was
officially
closed in 1994.
The
US Army had no
real use for the
airfield, but at
first they used
'Mary Ann' site
& 'G' site
to store
vehicles and
'Tech' site to
store some
helicopters
there for a
while, but later
concentrated on
Header house at
site '8'.
The
last fixed wing
aircraft to use
the airfield
were the gliders
of 635 Gliding
School Air
Training Corps.
The gliding
school opened in
November 1959
& they used
Kirby Cadet MK3
& Sedbergh
Gliders launched
by stationery
winches.
The
'K' type hangar
on 'Tech' site
was used to
store the
gliders &
their equipment.
When
'Tech' site was
demolished the
gliding school
was stood down
on the 25th of
September 1983.
At
the end of the
cold war, the US
Army left
Burtonwood &
the Americans
left this time
forever &
demolition work
soon started
& was
completed in
2008.
635
Gliding School
1959
635
Gliding School
was formed at
RAF Burtonwood
for the Air
Training Corps
in November of
1959.
The
Gliding School
used Kirby Cadet
MK 3 and
Sedbergh gliders
launched by
stationery
winches. The
School was
located at the
technical site
of the airfield
using the K
-Type hangar
there to store
there Gliders
and equipment
there.
The last
fixed-wing
aircraft to use
the airfield was
the Gliders of
635 Gliding
School. The
Gliding School
closed during
1984 after 25
years at
Burtonwood and
then being
relocated to BAE
Samlesbury,
and stayed there
for 24 years and
then being
reformed at
Topcliffe North
Yorkshire.
The Gliders of
635 Gliding
School
were-Kirby Cadet
MK 1- WE991 /
Kirby Cadet MK
3-WT870/WT871/WT872/XN199
/XN244/XN245/XN248/XE791/XE801/XA282/XA302/XA306
Sedbergh -
WB941/WB981/XM185/WT981/XN185/XN157/WB942.
Kirby Cadet at
Burtonwood
(credit to Kevin
Hughes for
photo)
Kirby
Cadet XE791 at
Burtonwood
(credit
to Kevin Hughes
for photo)
Gliders
at their
launch site at
RAF Burtonwood
at the side of
Mary ann site
during 1977
(photo credit
by kind
permission of
Steven Dowds)
Sedbergh
XN185
and one of the
C-type hangars
can
be seen in the
background at
Mary ann site
at RAF
Burtonwood
during 1977
(photo credit
by kind
permission of
Steven Dowds)
Sedbergh
XN185 in-flight
at RAF
Burtonwood
during 1977
(photo credit by
kind permission
of Steven Dowds)
Sedbergh
XN185
in-flight at
RAF Burtonwood
during 1977
(photo credit
by kind
permission of
Steven Dowds)
Originally
on the right of
the Road (below)
a tall
unclimable
fence was
constructed to
seperate the
communal areas
from the air
side.
In the
background to
the left of
the Road was
the site of
the recreation
sports ground
& the
baseball
pitch.
When the sports
facilities
became disused
they were later
relocated to
site 8.
In the
background is
the new hangar
style building
currently
being used by
the post
office.
The building
stands on the
former
workshop
warehouse on 'G'
site

This
is post WW2
Electrical &
Mechanical
Plynth near Mary
Ann sites

Armed
Forces Public
Open Days
The
United States
Air Force and
the Royal Air
Force held
public open days
at RAF
Burtonwood, with
both USAF and
RAF Airframes on
public display
at Mary Ann
site.
The
open days were
held on Mary Ann
site and the
aircraft were
displayed on the
apron in front
of the 3 'C'
type hangars.
Below
is a plan
(from out of
the programme)
of Armed
Forces Day on
Mary Ann Site
on the 17th of
May 1958.

The
first open day
was held on the
15th of May 1954
with a public
attendance of
100,000.
Thereafter,
the following
open days were
held:
19th
of May 1956
with an
attendance of
50,000.
18th
of May 1957
with an
attendance of
20,000.
17th
May 1958 with
an attendance
of over
75,000.
This
was the last
USAF public open
day to be held
at RAF
Burtonwood.
The
USAF left
Burtonwood in
early 1959, and
the US Army
arrived on the
2nd of January
1967.
On
the 20th of May
1967, the
Burtonwood US
Army depot held
there first
public open day.
The
next US Army
public open days
were held on
Independence day
celebrations, on
the 2nd of July
1972.
The
Royal Air Force
Diamond Jubilee
show was held on
the 21st and the
22nd of July
1978.
The
US Army's last
open day was
held on Saturday
the 3rd and
Sunday the 4th
of July 1989.
The
US Army left
Burtonwood for
the last time on
the 2nd of June
1993.
Blackburn
Beverly
C.1.XB268 D47
Squadron May
19 1956 on the
open day at
Burtonwood

Gloucester
Javelin FAW,
4, XA731 18 sq
18 may 1957
Note:
There were 3
'C' type
hangars on
Mary Ann
Site &
here you can
see 1 of them
in the
background.

FTS
Vampire T.11
XK584 66 17th
of May
1958 open day.
Note:
In the
background you
can see the
crash
fire station
located close
to the main
runway 09/27

A
Close up of
the Crash Fire
Station
Situated in
Front
of Mary Ann
Site Next to
the Main
Runway 09/27

53rd
Weather
Also
resident at
Burtonwood were
the 53rd Weather
reconnaissance
squadron,
arriving there
in November 1953
flying their
long range
Boeing B29 &
WB50 Super
Fortresses
collecting
weather data for
military air
transport
services.
The
53rd WRS left in
April 1959 for
re-assignment to
Alconbury in
Cambridge.
Boeing
Super Fortress
WB50 of the
53rd Weather
Reconnaissance
Squadron USAF
on Mary Ann
Site (1950's)

Boeing
Super Fortress
WB50 of the
53rd Weather
Reconnaissance
Squadron USAF
on Mary Ann
Site (1950's)

53rd
Weather
Reconnaissance
Loading
Mailbags of
Children's
Christmas
Cards to be
Dropped at the
North Pole for
Santa
Claus.

B36
Peacemaker
The
largest aircraft
to use
Burtonwood was
Convair B36
Peacemakers of
the 11th Bomb
wing Strategic
Air Command
(SAC).
The
aircraft had 10
engines, with 6
propellers and 4
jet engines. 16
of these bombers
landed at
Burtonwood
between the 18th
& 20th of
October 1956.
This size of
aircraft were
able to land and
take off at
Burtonwood
because of the
lengthening of
the main runway.
The
people of
Warrington could
hear the sound
of the engines
of these B36's
for miles and
although they
didn't make any
formal
complaints
regarding the
noise they
weren't really
pleased about
it.
Summary
There
was talk at the
time (1980's) of
trying to save 1
of the 2 control
towers on Tech
site and some of
the hangars on
'A' site and 'E'
site, but
nothing was
really done to
save them and
they were later
demolished.
Burtonwood
Air Base, once
the largest
USAAF base in
Europe and home
to 1,000's of
American Service
Personnel and
their families
is no more.
The
demolition
contractors have
destroyed all
trace of this
mighty base, but
they cannot
destroy the
memories of the
1,000's of
personnel and
their families
who worked and
lived there.
Even
today (2015) one
can still see,
with a trained
eye, rusting
perimeter
fences, some
bases of
buildings, the
odd blast
shelter on sites
2 and 4, and
also the
East/West Road
to Tech site and
site 6 and 'G'
site.
Photo
Dated August
1987 - Main
Route/Road
Across The
Airfield
Looking West
(Note
the street
lighting still
in position)
At
the end of
this road is a
t junction and
turning left
leads to Gate
6
(Barrows Hall
Lane) &
Turning right
leads to 'G'
Site, Site 6
&
Technical
Site.
Turning
left in the
foreground
eventually
leads to the
Main entrance
Gate 12.
Site
2 is the
Largest
Communal Site
on the
Airfield.
Site
2 is on the
Left of this
Photo (The
green grassed
area) and
Stretched all
the way over
to Barrows
Hall Lane Gate
6.

Photo
(Below) Taken
2014
Even
Now, One of
The Lamp Posts
is Still There
(The
2nd One Along in
The Above Photo)

Updated
Photo Dated
August 2014 -
Main
Route/Road
Across The
Airfield
Looking West
At
the end of
this road is a
t junction and
turning left
leads to Gate
6
(Barrows Hall
Lane) &
Turning right
leads to 'G'
Site, Site 6
&
Technical
Site.
Turning
left in the
foreground
eventually
leads to the
Main entrance
Gate 12.
To
the left of the
Road near the
bushes was the
USAF bus
station site 2
during the
1950s

This is the
USAAF Bus
Station/Interchange
as it was.
A fleet of 35
single decker
buses with a
capacity of 29
passengers
each
provided
transport on a
regular
timetable to
all the
airfield and
dispersed
sites.
Opposite the
bus station to
the right of the
road is where
the site of
building 225 stood
on Mary
Anne site.

We turned 180
Degrees and
took this
photo (below).
The
view of this
photo is the
same road as
the above
photo
looking the
opposite way
(East) This
lead to a road
junction.
Turning left
lead
Northwards
towards Mary
Ann Site.

We
are now at the
other end of
the long road
looking East
towards Mary
Ann Site &
the Main Gate.
Site 2 is on
the right.
The
road on the
right (running
South) in the
foreground
leads to Gate
6 (Barrows
Hall Lane
entrance)
The road on
the left
(running
North) in the
foreground
leads to 'G'
Site, Site 6
&
Technical Site
&
eventually
leads to the
North Road
linking 'E'
Site & 'A'
Site.
The
Post Office is
out of view on
the Left now
as well.

This
is another
view of the
junction
above.
Behind
the trees or
bushes is the
Post Office
building.
(Note:
Where the Post
Office building
now stands was
the location of
one of the large
workshop
warehouses that
became part of
'G' Site)

Looking North
From Gate 6
towards the
Junction
(above)

Turning 180
Degrees
Looking South
from the
previous
junction
towards Gate
6, Barrows
Hall Lane
Entrance.

From
Gate 6 Barrow
Hall Lane
Looking North.
(Note:
The Post Office
Building Can
Clearly
be Seen on What
Was Originally
'G' Site)

In
the woods on
the right
(above) is a
gate
that was the
entrance gate
6 (below)

(We
Found These in
2014)
WW2 Wright
Cyclone
Aircraft
Engine
Cylinder Head
Valve Rocker
Covers (Around
50 of them)

B17G
Undergoing
Maintenance on
Either
'Technical'
Site or 'A'
Site

P38
Lockheed
Lightning
Undergoing
Maintenance
on Either
'Technical'
Site or 'A'
Site

RAF Mustang I
AG411 at RAF
Burtonwood
England

North
Dispersals
Area 2014

Record Site
Plan of North
Dispersals

North
Dispersals
Area 1972
(Below image)
North of the
M62
(Note the M62
Services are
Being Built)
These were
common place
at Aircraft
Service Unit
Airfields
throughout
the United
Kingdom &
were used for
Aircraft
Storage Areas.
The Ministry
of Aircraft
Production
(MAP)
airfields
were simply
airfields with
factory
facilities.
This type of
dispersal was
also
constructed
for the
Ministry of
Aircraft
Production
Depots (MAP).
The layout of
these
dispersals are
known as,
'finger' or
'y' because of
their
appearance.
You can just
see the 'y'
shapes on the
image below in
1972
A
Perimeter
Track Linked
the North
Dispersal Area
(on the North
side
of the M62) to
Site 1
Dispersals (on
the South side
of the M62)

The North
Dispersals in
1945 Showing
Rows of B17's
Waiting to be
Scrapped

Rows of A20's
at the North
Dispersals in
the Process of
Scrapping at
the End of
WW2.
(Note
the Robin Hangar
in the
Background. Also
note the
chimney's that
are on the
Robin Hangar
roof....these
were to give the
Appearance of a
House to enemy
Aircraft)

This is
(almost) the
Exact Spot
Where The
A20's Were
Being Scrapped
(as above
photo) at the
End of
Hostilities.
The Actual
Concrete
Dispersal That
You Can See in
The Above
Photo (Taken
in 1945)
Was Where The
Bushes (and
Undergrowth)
on The Left is
on This 2014
Photo.
The Robin
Hangar Was in
the
Background,
Centre of the
Tall Tree
& in Front
of it.

Below is an
Aerial Photo
of The North
Dispersal Area
(as above) but
Taken
From The
Opposite End
During WW2 and
also it Has
B24 Liberators
on it.
In the Centre
of the Photo
You Can See a
Line of B24
Liberators
Opposite
The Robin
Hangar. This
is the Exact
Spot (as above
photo) Where
The A20's are
Being Scrapped
at the End of
Hostilities.

This is What
Remains of
Part of the
Perimeter
Fence.
This is Behind
Where The
Robin Hangar
Stood.

This is the
Main Entrance
to the North
Dispersals
Area looking
North.

This
Squared off
Fenced Area is
on the South
Perimeter of
the North
Dispersals.
Its
Purpose is
Unknown? It is
Not Shown on
WW2
Aerial Photos
Anywhere (that
we know of).
This is
Unusual
Because the
North
Dispersals
Area Was Not
Used After
WW2.
This black and
white photo
was taken in
1972 and shows
a building on
it along
with at least
4 concrete
bases where
buildings
(possibly?)
once stood.
You cannot see
the entrance
or gate on
this photo but
there is
an entrance
opening at the
top right hand
corner of the
fencing

This colour
photo was
taken in 2014
(facing North
West).

This colour
photo was
taken in 1987
(facing East)
and you
can see the
old Parkside
Colliery in
the
background.

This
is a Photo
taken in 2014
of Within the
Squared Off
Fenced Area.
The Photo is
Showing Banked
up Earth with
Excavated
Concrete &
Pierced Steel
Planking.

P51 Mustangs
on 'E' Site in
the Process of
Being Scrapped
1945

WW2 Tree
carvings East
of the North
Dispersal
area.
It
looks like the
name is 'W
Yates' &
the date looks
like it says
'1944'

Tree
carvings
dating back to
WW2 can be
found today
(2015)
The carvings
look like it
says 'USAAF'
& '1944'
& Baron
This
tree is on
Site 5


More
tree carvings
on Site 5.
Difficult to
tell what is
carved on this
tree, but it
looks like it
has 1942(?)

Farm
girl
collecting hay
next to B17s
next
to the North
dispersals
looking North.

Colour
photo of B17s
on the North
dispersals
taken from a
landing
aircraft,
looking North.
The
farm girl in
this photo
would have
been on the
bottom left.
The
Robin hangar
can be seen on
the top left
of the photo.
Photo
from the
National
Archive, Slide
Archive
Reference
342-c-k-2418.

B
17s on the
North
dispersals
looking South.
The
farm girl in
this photo
would have
been at the
top left of
the photo
where the hay
field can be
seen.
The
Robin hangar
is at the
bottom right
out of the
picture.
Photo from
Warrington
Worldwide.
Co.UK

B17s
on the North
dispersals
looking North.
The
Robin hanger
can be seen in
the
background.
Photo
by Getty
Images.

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