Burtonwood
Airfield
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
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Cabin In The Sky
- Unit: Base Air Depot 1 303rd Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: Base Air Depot 1 303rd Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Wantta Spar
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 510th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: HotNuts
- Unit: Base Air Depot 1 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
![Ground personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group work on a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5081) nicknamed "Luscious Lady". Image stamped on reverse: 'US Official Photographs.' [stamp], 'Keystone Press.' [stamp] and 'Sacred.' [stamp] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378959.jpg.webp?itok=aoTNMECP)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Luscious Lady
- Unit: 301st Bomb Group 303rd Bomb Group 419th Bomb Squadron 427th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
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
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)
