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

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 1
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Mechanic
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group Base Air Depot 1 343rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-760232
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 1
  • Highest Rank: Private First Class
  • Role/Job: Hydraulic
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 1
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group
  • Service Numbers: 18035823, 2044539
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Flight Control Officer

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Dottie
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Audrey
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 368th Bomb Squadron 544th Bomb Squadron
Ground crew work of the 303rd Bomb Group work on the engines of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Duchess". Passed for publication 20 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Famous Fortresses. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Ground crewmen at work on the Fortress "Duchess", which has already been on 50 missions over enemy territory. They are (left to right, lower): Sgt. Clyde L. Dewald, of 200 E Union St., Schnykill Haven, Penn.; and Sgt. James C. Hicks, of Rowtob, Henderson, K.Y.; (Upper) Cpl. Charles
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Duchess, Sure Stuff
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
A 365th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (XK-R, serial number 41-24578) taxiis to take off from Chelveston airbase. Passed for publication 30 Jun 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '124578, XK:R.' Printed caption on reverse: 'At A Fortress Station In Britain. From an American base in Britain the Flying Fortresses carry out operational activities which result in terrible blows against the German industrial war machine. This series of pictures shows scenes at a Flying Fortresses stati
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Problem Child : Old Reliable
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 1 547th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Knock-out Dropper
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th 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)