Burtonwood

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Burtonwood airfield, 10 August 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/622. English Heritage (RAF Photography). eh-184.jpg RAF_106G_UK_622_RS_4025 Aerial photograph of Burtonwood airfield, 10 August 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/622. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - RAF_106G_UK_622_RS_4025 - Aerial photograph of Burtonwood airfield, 10 August 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/622. English Heritage (RAF...

Built for the RAF in 1939-40, the RAF's No. 37 Maintenance Unit used the base from 1940 to 1942, before it became a joint Anglo-American maintenance and servicing airfield - a Base Air Depot. After the war it continued to be used as a maintenance and supply site. The final Second World War buildings were demolished in 2008-9.

Connections

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Detailed History

Built for the RAF and civilian use as Burtonwood Repair Depot in 1939-40, the RAF's No. 37 Maintenance Unit and No 21 School of Technical Training used the base from 1940 to 1942.



On 23 May 1942 an agreement was reached between the RAF and the US Army Air Forces on the plan to transfer repair depot at Burtonwood to US forces following period of joint control to begin at end of June before it became Base Air Depot Area and Base Air Depot #1, as the center of supply and maintenance of all US aircraft in the 8th & 9th Air Forces. Burtonwood later becomes greatest AAF depot overseas





After the war it reverted to the RAF until 1948 when it passed back to the USAF as the support base for the US deterrent continuing in this role until 1965 when the airfield closed.



The US Army took occupation from 1967 to 1993 using it as a supply base for potential war in Europe. The final Second World War buildings were demolished in 2008-9

People

Munsey L Brooks
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Service Numbers: 38 305 918
  • Highest Rank: Corporal (RAF)
  • Role/Job: control tower operations
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group Base Air Depot 1 362nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-740360
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group 482nd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron 359th Bomb Squadron 422nd Bomb Squadron 813th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16061487
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 1, US Strategic Air Forces
  • Highest Rank: Corporal (RAF)
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 27th Air Transport Group 353rd Fighter Group 352nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32001562 / O-665386
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Aircraft

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 92nd Bomb Group fly in formation during a training exercise. Aircraft are, from left to right: B-17E (serial number 41-9022) nicknamed "Alabama Exterminator", B-17E (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", B-17E (UX-?, serial number 41-9017) nicknamed "Heidi Ho", B-17E (UX-V, serial number 41-9013), B-17E (UX-S, serial number 41-9154) nicknamed "The Bat out of Hell", B-17E (serial number 41-9132). Printed caption on reverse: 'B-26340 AC - Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortres
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Alabama Exterminator II
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 92nd Bomb Group
A P-51 Mustang (WD-U, 42-106438) of the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, flown by Lieutenant Curtis Simpson, after a forced landing in Switzerland, 19 July 1944. "P.51B Mustang , coded WD-U, right side three-quarter view, with mountainous background, which I said was in neutral country. It was, in fact, Switzerland, when Lt. Curtis Simpson was forced to abort a mission to Munich on 19th July, 1944, following a glycol leak." Information from Debden historian Keith Braybrooke
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Mega Ann
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 359th Fighter Group Base Air Depot 1 350th Fighter Squadron 370th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Maryland, My Maryland : Billie
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Vanishing Virgin | X-Virgin
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 364th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

AAM

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Date
ContributorAldon
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Sources

None of your selected media really has anything to do with Burtonwood and I suggest it is removed. Station summary is incorrect I suggest it is changed to the following:

Built for the RAF and civilian use as Burtonwood Repair Depot in 1939-40, the RAF's No. 37 Maintenance Unit and No 21 School of Technical Training used the base from 1940 to 42, before it became Base Air Depot Area and Base Air Depot #1 as the center of supply and maintenance of all US aircraft in the 8th & 9th Air Forces. After the war it reverted to the RAF until 1948 when it passed back to the USAF as the support base for the US deterrent continuing in this role until 1965 when the airfield closed. The US Army took occupation from 1967 to 1993 using it as a supply base for potential war in Europe. The final Second World War buildings were demolished in 2008-9

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Manual (London, 2001)

David J. Smith. Action Stations 3: Military Airfields of Wales and the North-West (Cambridge, 1981)

Burtonwood: Gallery (71 items)