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Post by ronturner on Jul 8, 2020 19:50:17 GMT 1
Findogask.
Thank you for a thoroughly good read. I have copied into word on my PC for my own re reading from time to time. Tell me if you disapprove.
Ron
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Post by findogask on Jul 8, 2020 20:14:48 GMT 1
Findogask. Thank you for a thoroughly good read. I have copied into word on my PC for my own re reading from time to time. Tell me if you disapprove. Ron No disapproval at all, ron, I'd like as many people as possible to read it. Maybe then I can find some surviving crew members who flew into Burtonwood on the QRAs; any one else Burtonwood or ex- who remembers those heady days; and anybody else who remembers / took part in that memorable four-ship victory roll in May / June 1966. |
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Post by Beemer on Jul 9, 2020 8:09:21 GMT 1
I took this photo in the last 10 years or so of the last remnants of Burtonwood's 09/27 runway. It was taken from the sole bridge (as it was then) at Burtonwood Services looking towards Liverpool. The piece of r/w is just to the left before the area was taken over by dozens of warehouses and the second bridge was built on that small section of r/w.  Burtonwood remnants of 09-27 |
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Post by viscount on Jul 9, 2020 9:15:48 GMT 1
On several occasions when travelling along the stretch of the M62 in the photo during the mid/late '70s with the late Don Stephens, he would relate a tale of how they in the mid '50s, would cycle(!) from South Liverpool to Burtonwood and watch the action from a lane that ended in a fire gate not too far from the 27 runway threshold. He would go on to say, how one day they were at this point overlooking the stretch of runway, likely just short of the new motorway bridge, and had watched an F-86 Sabre coming into land without first lowering the undercarriage. They were helpless spectators as the aircraft slid along the runway in a shower of sparks, stopped and the pilot leapt out and ran.
Those driving the M62 along the stretch that had been built over the length of the 09/27 runway in the 80s and maybe into the early or even mid 90s will remember the dip that ran across the motorway. Periodically the tarmac would levelled off, but within a few months would again became a dip around 2 metres wide running at a right angle across the road. Even when 'repaired' you could see where the dip was as the Armco barrier in the central reservation still dipped! Eventually on a major resurfacing they built what was effectively a ground level bridge structure under the road and across the dip, so curing the recurring mine subsidence problem.
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Post by findogask on Jul 9, 2020 12:51:45 GMT 1
Don't know how much truth there is in this - but - one of my staff members at 306 Sqn insists that his Granddad used to tell him this tale. In 1946 he worked for whichever "MU" it was took over Burtonwood after the USAAF had left. They dug a huge hole at the end of "27". Several Lancasters landed. They were de-fuelled and otherwise de-fluided, and then unceremoniously bulldozed into this huge pit. And soiled-over again. So, when we now drive West down the M62 (or East from Tarbock for that matter) we may be driving over the grave of several historic aircraft! Don't think anybody's going to organise a "dig", though, do you?
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Post by ian531 on Jul 9, 2020 13:43:44 GMT 1
My dad used to say he often used to cycle to Burtonwood from Leigh with a friend, on one day my didn’t go and his friend was offered a flight in a Boxcar, how true I don’t no, but my Dad always believed his friend
Another story was a single woman who lived nearby who would have be frequently visited by a US Jeep full of GI’s - maybe she was a good cook!
Ian
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Post by vfr800 on Jul 9, 2020 14:27:03 GMT 1
Does anyone remember the flight of Convair B36 Peacemakers that came over about 1957 I think. What noisy old beasts they were. I was at school in Stretford at the time, such was the noise that the teacher took us
all out into the playground to watch, as we'd never heard anything like it compared to the C119s, Globemasters etc. I remember they were flying around for the rest of the night. I was in and out of the house every few minutes. Amazing, and the film Strategic Air Command was on telly a few weeks ago and brought it all back.
Jim.
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Post by findogask on Jul 9, 2020 14:40:17 GMT 1
"SAC" knocks stupid "Top Gun" into a cocked hat anytime! The B36 that flew round the whole of the North West for the whole of one night, had actually got into trouble just after take off, and had to fly round and round for hours just to burn off fuel!
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Post by findogask on Jul 9, 2020 22:09:57 GMT 1
Fantastic II spent many a happy hour in the late 50's with telescope and note book there I wish I had kept my logs now. I went to all the armed forces open days at the base,some photos I sent to Viscount. Avion Video Ringway Vintage Manchester Airport includes coulour film from one of the open days Jim Mackenzie |
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Post by findogask on Jul 9, 2020 22:11:00 GMT 1
Jim - I used to be OC 316 Sqn at Leigh!
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Post by viscount on Jul 23, 2024 10:10:14 GMT 1
Came across these, while looking for (and finding) something else. A good excuse too, to bring life back into this 'zombie' thread, thought a few images from the MAS days might be of interest:MERSEYSIDE AVIATION SOCIETY (MAS) CHARTER FLIGHT,
BRITISH MIDLAND FLIGHT BD 801, 11th MARCH 1979. British Midland in a major route-swop with British Airways, took over all the former BA Irish Sea and Heathrow routes out of Liverpool. The change-over came overnight 28th/29th October 1978, with BMA using Viscounts and a Douglas DC-9 based at Liverpool. As members wished to experience flying the DC-9, John Browne, as Chairman of the MAS immediately commenced negotiations with British Midland. As a result, on a partly cloudy Sunday afternoon, 11th March 1979 members of the MAS gathered for a trip in Douglas DC-9-14 OH-LYB. The cost, £10.75 per seat. A 'local' flight, which I have recorded as 31 minutes airbourne, off and back onto 27, reaching a maximum of 7000 feet and around 400 mph, routing over Snowdownia flown by Capt. Gilbert. My air-to-ground transparencies suffer from a dull October day with layers of cloud above and at time below. A few though to give a flavour of the event.  'Educational' flight BD801 due for departure at 14:45 - no doubt we were a little late departing with a full load of excited passengers.  Douglas DC-9-14 OH-LYB "Merseyside" out on the apron, loading through gate 2.  Passing a little inland of Llandudno.  Above Snowdonia in broken cloud  Above the Menai Straits, with the town of Menai Bridge on the left and Bangor over to the right  A familiar view looking east up the Mersey Estuary. The two Runcorn Bridges (road and rail) and the now demolished coal-fired power station at Fiddler's Ferry landmarks while losing height for a visual landing 27.    On arrival back at Liverpool, we were in no rush to leave the apron and gathered for a 'team' photo. Today I can name only a few, Adrian & Margaret Thompson, possibly Martin Chell, with Mike Bishop and 'Stavros' - in matching 'Tomcat' sweater-shirts. Anyone name-check others?
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Post by ian531 on Jul 23, 2024 11:33:46 GMT 1
There are some great fashion choices in this pictures 😂
Ian
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