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Post by john1958 on Feb 18, 2011 18:02:02 GMT 1
Hi guys. Well this once fantastic base is no more, and even driving down the M62 now, you really have to almost strain to remember there was once a might 8th Air force base there. Now I remember a trip quite a number of years ago, must have been early 70's when we ventured up here to the NW, and stopped off at Burtonwood to get the RAF gliders. Now I'm having trouble finding a log of these, does anyone have a list of the gliders that were based there please? Have also been reading a fine book in Huyton library, about RAF Burtonwood. So, do any of our "more mature" members have any old logs or pictures they could share with us? There are a couple of superb hanger shots taken mid 50's, with the hanger full of F-84's in for maintenance. Be interesting to see how friendly or not the local USAF were?  ? OK, over to you guys. Thanks in advance John |
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Post by coaxingtin on Feb 18, 2011 20:39:06 GMT 1
I've never quite got over Burtonwood closing! It was a long trip from the Wirral via train, bus to St Helens then another bus and a walk of about a mile to the fence on the north side. The alternative was to go to the south side then down a road with parts of the base on each side. Imagine a traffic controlled crossing of Taxiway Alpha at LJLA, round about Tango, from which you can walk out to a point quite close to the runway. No? Well that's what you could do at Bwood. I remember waiting at the lights for a Fairchild C-123 Provider to trundle past almost in touching distance!
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Post by Biggles on Feb 18, 2011 20:42:08 GMT 1
john the main VGS at Birtonwood was 635 Unit, I can however add that for a short period during the dreaded foot and mouth disease I was with 631 VGS at RAF Sealand probably during the middle 60`s, we moved lock stock T21 T31 Burtonwood by road and aero tow.
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Post by jbmack on Feb 18, 2011 21:33:37 GMT 1
Possible new subject for the history and memories further a(ir)field section ?
jbmack
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2011 23:16:21 GMT 1
I've never quite got over Burtonwood closing! It was a long trip from the Wirral via train, bus to St Helens then another bus and a walk of about a mile to the fence on the north side. The alternative was to go to the south side then down a road with parts of the base on each side. Imagine a traffic controlled crossing of Taxiway Alpha at LJLA, round about Tango, from which you can walk out to a point quite close to the runway. No? Well that's what you could do at Bwood. I remember waiting at the lights for a Fairchild C-123 Provider to trundle past almost in touching distance! I seem to remember that near to the lights as you headed back to Great Sankey was a sign which said something like: "What you see and what you hear, when you go leave it here." Anyone else remember that? |
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Post by john1958 on Feb 19, 2011 11:53:41 GMT 1
Chris, good link cheers. I love seeing old jet fighters, and the days when there were many many more "open days" than we get nowadays!
John
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Post by Beemer on Feb 19, 2011 15:43:53 GMT 1
I think/know Burtonwood is covered back on the Forum some where as I remember starting the thread with photos of the demolition of the old hangars. Regards Beemer.
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Post by viscount on Feb 19, 2011 18:40:04 GMT 1
Strongly suspect that the demolishing of the hangars at RAF Burtonwood was just over two years ago, and therefore subject of photo-coverage on the former xsorbit hosted forum.
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Post by speedbird1960 on Feb 19, 2011 19:46:57 GMT 1
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GHB
Full Member
What's so special about meerkats?
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Post by GHB on Feb 19, 2011 21:48:22 GMT 1
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Post by jbmack on Feb 19, 2011 22:58:19 GMT 1
The photos of the Skyblazers at Burtonwood would be when they displayed at the speke airdisplay 1956 I think the same year Leo Valentin was killed.
The Avion video "Ringway vintage Manchester Airport" has a few seconds of colour film from one of the armed forces open days taken by the father of Ray Webb of Ravenair.
jbmack
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Post by Beemer on Feb 20, 2011 10:39:26 GMT 1
View of M62 looking to-wards Liverpool with a small section of the main runway still showing but this has now gone as they built a new bridge over it. Views of hangars as they were This was used by a refrigeration company til' the end.  This was used by a truck driving school. 
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Post by Beemer on Feb 20, 2011 10:41:23 GMT 1
The end of an era  Regards Beemer.
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Post by Beemer on Aug 27, 2013 17:44:04 GMT 1
For any one who doesn't know the hangars were knocked down a while ago and a couple of large buildings have been erected. They look like wholesale distribution warehouses and I noticed to-day they have named the entrance road in as Lockheed Road.. Regards Beemer.
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Post by deteulada on Aug 27, 2013 18:20:16 GMT 1
For any one who doesn't know the hangars were knocked down a while ago and a couple of large buildings have been erected. They look like wholesale distribution warehouses and I noticed to-day they have named the entrance road in as Lockheed Road.. Regards Beemer. And interestingly the name on one of the warehouses is Brakes regards |
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