Speke

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Speke airfield looking east, the technical site and control tower are on the left, 10 August 1945. Photograph by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/626. English Heritage (RAF Photography). eh-464.jpg RAF_106G_UK_626_RP_3207 Aerial photograph of Speke airfield looking east, the technical site and control tower are on the left, 10 August 1945. Photograph by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/626. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - RAF_106G_UK_626_RP_3207 - Aerial photograph of Speke airfield looking east, the technical site and control tower are on the left, 10 August 1945. Photograph by No. 541...

Speke served as a reception centre for the assembly of Lockheed aircraft types from USA 1938-44, and as despatch centre for the return from UK of Eighth Air Force and Ninth Air Force fighters in 1945. The current runway for the Liverpool John Lennon Airport is located to the south of the original Speke airfield.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

English Heritage's Record Description

A Second World War military airfield is visible as a structure on air photographs. RAF vertical photography of 1940 shows the site to be an open field. 1943 oblique RAF photographs show a runway has been constructed. Elements of the airfield are still extant on the latest 1984 Ordnance Survey vertical photography.



A civil airport, opened in 1930 and used for both civil and military purposes in World War Two. Scheduled flights from Speke began in 1930, there was an official opening ceremony in 1933. Airport buildings were built in the late 1930s, The original terminal and aircraft hangars are extant but now converted to other uses (please see SJ 48 SW 15 and SJ 48 SW 16 and SJ 48 SW 26 for further details). During World War Two military aircraft were produced at Speke in the Rootes and Lockheed aircraft factories at the site. Because of the more intensive use of the airport, three hard runways were laid to deal with larger heavier aircraft. Extra hangars in the form of Bellman and Blister designs were added. The airport was protected by anti-invasion defences, some of which were reportedly extant in 1996. The airport was under the control of the Air Ministry (Department of Civil Aviation) during the conflict. The local authority did not regain control until 1961. In 1966 further new runways were opened to cope with air traffic. In 1986 the old terminal facilities and buildings were closed, with new terminal buildings being constructed on the southern airport site. There was further expansion of the airport's terminal facilities in the mid 1990s and 2002. In 2001 the airport was renamed Liverpool John Lennon airport.

Aircraft

 The nose art of a P-51B Mustang (serial number 43-6623) nicknamed "Spare Parts". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'P-51B-15-NA nose on 43-6623.' Printed caption on reverse: '0-sox N-Spare Parts nose art U-.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Spare Parts
  • Unit: 27th Air Transport Group 310th Ferry Squadron
A P-51 Mustang (VF-L, serial number 44-14350) of the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '336th F.S., 4th F.G., 8th Air Force.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Connie II
  • Unit: 27th Air Transport Group 4th Fighter Group 310th Ferry Squadron 336th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: Master
  • Unit: 6th Fighter Wing 361st Fighter Group 376th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Historic England National Monument Record SJ 48 SW 24

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / David J. Smith. Action Stations 3: Military Airfields of Wales and the North-West (Cambridge, 1981)

Speke: Gallery (7 items)