Historic Aviation Military

Burtonwood Home Page

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(Follow these links to see pictures and learn some of the history about the sites at RAF Burtonwood)

Dispersed Sites	Site 1	Site 2	Site 3
Site 4	Site 5	Site 6	Site 7
Site 8	A Site	E Site	G Site
Mary Ann Site	Technical Site	BRD Site	53rd Weather Reconnaissance
Flight Testing WW2	Aircraft Findings	Aircraft Parts	Bob Pugh 1965th AACS Sq
Tunison ETO	7559th	Stanley L Kaminski	Ongoing

Sign at the Entrance of Burtonwood

United States Air Force Precision Flying Demonstration
Aerobatic Team Skyblazers at RAF Burtonwood, During the Mid-1950s.

The Aerobatic Team Flew The North American F-86 Sabre.

In the spring of 1949, the first flights of the Skyblazers Air Demonstration Team took place in the skies over Europe at the airbase in Furstenfeldbruk, Germany. The pilots were part of the 22nd fighter squadron from the 36th Fighter Wing as part of the USAFE (United States Air Forces in Europe). The USAFE headquarters instructed the team to create an aerobatics team using F-80B aircraft and perform demonstrations throughout Europe. Soon afterwards the team was given modified F-84E Thunderjet aircraft.

The 50-calibre machine guns were removed from the front of the aircraft for better handling in the demonstrations. By the summer of 1952, the team had performed more than 260 air demonstrations in more than 12 countries. In 1953 the team came under the command of the 48th Fighter-Bomber Wing based in Chaumont, France. Soon after that, they moved on to the F-86F Sabre jet for the next 3 years. During this time the team continued to perform air demonstrations throughout Europe using the F-86.

In 1956 they were moved back to the 36th Fighter Wing and stationed at the airbase in Bitburg, Germany. During this time a new air demonstration team based in the U.S. called the Thunderbird had been formed. In 1962 with the development of mid-air refuelling, the Thunderbirds were able to make the trip to Europe for demonstrations. This eliminated the need for a team based in Europe and the Skyblazers were officially disbanded.

Skyblazers display team patch

Skyblazers display team F-86 Sabres waiting for take-off.

Skyblazers display team F- 86 Sabres 31219 FU-219 At the West of the airfield.

Skyblazers display team F-86 Sabres

Sabre 31201/ FU-201/ in the right of the photo, is still Airworthy today.

Skyblazers display team F-86 Sabres

The chimneys and Cooling towers of Bold Power Station can be seen in the background.

Skyblazers display team F-86 Sabre 31219 FU-219.

Skyblazers display team F-86 Sabre on runway 09 at the West of the airfield

In the background are the 3 L-Type hangars at E-Site.

Skyblazers display team F-86 Sabre

Sabre 31201/ FU-201/ on the taxiway at the West of the airfield.

This aircraft is still Airworthy today.

History of Sabre 31201/ FU-201 as seen in the Burtonwood photos above.

Delivered to United States Air Force as 52-4959, 19??.

Delivered to FA Argentina as ???, 19??.

Recovered from Argentina and assembled at Coleman, TX, 1989.

World Wide Aircraft, Miami, FL, September 1990-1992

- Registered as N105BH.

- Flown in a camouflage scheme.

Airplane Exchange Co, Miami, FL, June 1992-1995.

Thomas Righetti, Miami, FL, September 24, 1997-2002.

- Registered as N86FR.

- Flown as USAF/Skyblazers/31201/FU-201.

F86 LLC, Coconut Grove, FL, 2003-2005.

- Flown as USAF/Skyblazers/31201/FU-201.

Update on the huge P-38 Lightning memorial at RAF Burtonwood

Plans have been submitted to Warrington Borough Council’s planning department for permission to build the monument at Omega.

The sculpture, which at 22.8 metres would be larger than the Angel of the North near Newcastle, is earmarked for the centre point of Mountpark roundabout, within Omega South on Skyline Drive next to the M62.

The highlight of the art piece would be an iconic WWII American aircraft, the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, which would be illuminated and bathed in WW2 searchlights at night.

Camera-shy Pup 'Stubby' finally submits to Portrait when dragged off the bus

While the Burtonwood Rehabilitation program was welcomed by all, a few have fully appreciated and made use of the improvements are more than Stubby. Stubby pays no Taxes, no dues to the NCO or officers club, has never been known to buy anyone a drink, but is welcomed everywhere. Stubby is an ordinary backyard variety of a dog.

The only outstanding feature about him is that he has only three legs, and this is not a natural phenomenon. Back in February 1949, Stubby, then known as Fido or hey you or something, was brought to the base dispensary with a badly mangled right hind leg. A Veterinarian might have thrown in his syringe and ordered an Execution for the little dog's own good.

Still, the Doctor on duty was used to working on human beings, on whom mercy executions are taboo. He administered an Anaesthetic and proceeded to amputate the injured Leg. Stubby came out of the Anaesthetic feeling the call of nature, and it was when he accosted a nearby tree that he discovered his fate. After the initial shock, the little Mongrel quickly put his canine ingenuity to work.

"If Stubby didn't like what Site 2 was serving, he could hop on a bus to Site 5."

To his delight, he discovered the airbase's Bus system and through this medium, he found that there was more than one mess hall on the airbase. If he didn't like what Site 2 was serving, he could hop on a bus to Site 5. In short order, Stubby learned all the Bus stops and was soon known to everyone. An article in the wing newspaper introduced him to the British press, who promptly tagged him an arithmetician [drop one and carry three].

A newspaper that specializes in hatchet murders, in mind and spirit, with the rest of the airbase. Sex and Dogs sent a reporter and photographer out to do a feature on him. Stubby could not be found. In succeeding weeks, official base photographers tried to capture him on film, but each time he was seen A bus would appear and take off with Stubby aboard. Not long ago, he was seen near the headquarters, and an NCO was dispatched to capture him.

A bus appeared and hauled him away, as usual, but the NCO managed to overtake the bus. Stubby refused to get off, but the enterprising sergeant cannily removed the pups lady friend, a long-haired brown little bitch, and Stubby followed.

"Unless you speak to him first, he will pass you by."

In the office, the only way they could get Stubby to pose was to hide his lady friend under a low desk. By this means, the three-legged pup was finally recorded on GI film. Since that time, he has continued his daily rounds of the four air bases' mess halls. Stubby is never obnoxious and never tries to force your attention toward him. Unless you speak to him first, he will pass you by.

A friendly word, and he comes to you with tail wagging, it used to be amusing to see a bus stop and nobody get on or off except Stubby. No one knows how the little dog knows the bus stops or just when to get off. There is only one recorded incident where Stubby showed up for sick call one morning with a side injury, someone had kicked him so the wing veterinarian reported. He gave Stubby a shot of penicillin and marked him in quarters.

When the pup felt better, he hobbled off again. From the service point of view, he is the ranking dog on the air base. He has seen all the changes on the air base, from the mud and the muck, the roar of airlift planes, the rise and fall in personnel strength, to complete rehabilitation. He has taken it all in stride on three legs, he seems to have crown healthier in mind and spirit with the rest of the air base.

Sweet Memories of Ethel Mary Wilkinson

laid to rest at Warrington Cemetery on June 3rd 1945

Road named after test pilot who tragically died when Experimental jet plane crashed 3 miles west of Burtonwood air base

Major Frederic Austin Borsodi

A new road on the residential part of Omega has been named in memory of Major Frederic A Borsodi, USAAF, who tragically died whilst flying an experimental jet plane over Burtonwood airbase in January 1945.

Borsodi Boulevard is set to be officially unveiled on May 26th as part of a Burtonwood airbase reunion event.

The new ‘R3’ spine road through the residential part of Omega, extending from the signal-controlled junction at Burtonwood Road / Kingswood Road, down to the Green Heart) is being named ‘Borsodi Avenue’ in memory of the American WW2 Test Pilot who died towards the end of the war whilst flying an experimental jet plane.

Although built, the road is not yet open to the public. To coincide with this year’s Burtonwood Association reunion, an official opening ceremony is proposed for Thursday, 26 May.

Major Frederic A. Borsodi (November 4, 1916 – December 28, 1945) entered US Army Air Corps service in Connecticut and served from 1941 to 1943 as a second lieutenant in the African, Sicilian, and Italian campaigns, completing 130 missions as a P-40 pilot. His flying experience with the P-40 in the Mediterranean area probably formed his basis of comparison of the Bf 109G-6/trop and the US Army Air Forces fighters.

He became chief of fighter testing from 1943-45 at Wright Field in Ohio. He was the first man to witness the compressibility shock wave on an aircraft wing while diving a P-51 plane from 40,000 feet.

On January 28, 1945, when testing YP-80A Shooting Star 43-83026, the engine exploded and the aircraft crashed approx three miles west of Burtonwood airfield, pilot, Major Borsodi was killed and the aircraft completely destroyed. This aircraft was the first US jet-propelled fighter and one of two jets on the field. Both planes had received a first flight check; this plane crashed during a routine second flight. As a result, the YP-80A was temporarily grounded. Had he survived WWII, he would almost certainly have been a candidate to fly the Bell X-1 and be the first man to exceed the speed of sound.

Major Borsodi is buried at the US Military Cemetery at Cambridge: Plot C, Row 4 Grave 73.

His awards were: Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters

Thanks to Gary Skentelbery of Warrington Worldwide for this Article.

The crash site of VP80A, 44-83026 Shooting Star at Bold on January 1945

Burtonwood fire pits on the 17 May 1958 open day

American servicemen at Warrington Walking Day on the Town Hall lawn in the 1950s

Burtonwood living site in the Snow during 1952, an unknown site

Catering hatch at a Burtonwood unknown location

A photo from Susan Mousted of a picture her father made for one of the Burtonwood Airbase Chapels in 1951/52

Are there any members stationed at Burtonwood Base Warrington England, we are trying to identify this sign from the Airbase

John Dever Parents at USAF Burtonwood Air Base

(photo published 7 Aug 2021, credit to John Dever)

My parents married at Penketh Methodist Church. Dad was stationed at Burtonwood in 1949. They married in 1951 & They are still going strong 70 years later.

John Devers, Mother Secretary for the Colonel at the Burtonwood Headquarters in 1951

Photo credit to John Dever

The New Arrival of the Douglas C-54 Skymaster at the USAAF Burtonwood

The Same C-54 Skymaster At The USAAF Burtonwood

in The Right Background, is The ATC Tower Fort Type

DRG Number 207/36 at Mary Ann Site

In The Right Background is Building 9, The K-Type Hangar

In Front of The Hangar is a C-47

On The Left is Building 6, The J-Type Hangar

Here .. A Douglas C-124 Globemaster Heavy-Lift Cargo Aircraft

of the Military Air Transport Service USAF

Can be Seen On The Snow-covered Apron At Burtonwood In The 1950's

A visit by Bob Hope to the USAF Burtonwood on the 30th December 1948

Below The Photo is An Article by Paul Hampton from Warrington

My Aunt Mary Mullen married Charles Frederick Zitzelberger in 1953. Charlie was based at Burtonwood for about three years. Mary was originally from the Scotland Rd area of Liverpool, and Charlie was from Clearfield, Pennsylvania. Charlie died a couple of years ago, but Mary still lives in Clearfield, now aged 92.

WOMAN FIRE EATER AT COURT MARTIAL AS ALLEGED DESERTER

Described as ' alias Donna Delbert '

Private Delbert Eugene Hill pleaded not guilty to a charge of desertion from the United States Army from July 1945 until April of this year, when he was arrested, at a United States Air Force general court - martial at Burtonwood, Lancashire, Hill is said to have appeared on the British music halls as a female illusionist and fire - eater. PICTURE SHOWS:- DELBERT HILL in uniform as a private of the U.S. Army at Burtonwood. 10 June 1949

Vietnam demonstration at the U.S. base Burtonwood Lancs

Only 25 demonstrators turned up December 1969

Vietnam demonstration at the U.S. base Burtonwood Lancs

Only 25 demonstrators turned up December 1969

CND March at Burtonwood Road alongside the airbase Perimeter Fence in the 1970s

Burtonwood CND Protest outside of site 8 in the 1980s

Jean Simmons, British Screen Star, Shows American Airforce Men Just how a Jeep Should be driven During her visit to Burtonwood Airbase on December 18, 1942

Terence Neill at work as a shoe-shine boy in the Barbershop shop at the American Air Force Base at Burtonwood in March 1953

Hopalong Cassidy [William Boyd] on a visit to the American Air Force Base at Burtonwood Warrington in 1954

Hopalong Cassidy [William Boyd] is visiting the American Air Force Base at Burtonwood

Boyd is seen Having Dinner with the Children In 1954

Army Air Corps Cpl Jeannie Lumpkin and an unknown American soldier in 1943

Glenn Miller at Burtonwood in WW2

Glen Miller Text for photo

Looking West from the radio tower, on the left are Republic P-47 Thunderbolts, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, in the center is a Consolidated B-24 Liberator and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, and to the right are De Havilland Mosquitos and B-17

Maintenance work on Engine number 4 of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Consolidated B-24 Liberator flying over Bruche Hall Dispersed Living Site at Warrington

A Busy Corner of Burtonwood during World War 2, with B-24, C-47, P-47 and B-17 Aircraft

Aircraft Dispersals: At the Bottom is the Mary Ann Site, and at the top is the Technical Site during WW2

Vehicle check and paperwork Presented for Examination

The top left of the photo shows the runway 09/27 extension to 9,000ft, which was constructed in the early 1950s. It is said to have been one of the longest runways in the UK.

The Passing Away of:

Colonel Wayne C. Pittman, Jr USAF

March 16, 1937- October 5, 2015

Wayne C Pittman arrived at Burtonwood with his family in the early 1950s, Wayne then attended the Dependents School located at Site 1 Burtonwood, where he became a member of the junior Air Police. On duty, they wore their distinctive white hats and armbands, Wayne Pittman was from Alexandria, Louisiana. America.

The U.S. Air Force in Britain has enrolled 15 children in their Air Police. They are all under 16 and have been formed in an Air Police Squadron. Their duties include keeping discipline among their fellow pupils, giving first aid to children, and enforcing road safety. The squadron is stationed at Burtonwood, the American airbase in Lancashire. All the boys and girls are the children of servicemen of the U.S. Air Force.

After returning home, Wayne joined the US Air Force. He was in the first graduating class of the US Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs in 1959.

March 16, 1937 — October 1, 2015 Wayne and Karen retired to Dayton, Ohio in 1989 following 34 years of service in The United States Air Force. He was in the first graduating class of The United States Air Force Academy. During their years in Dayton, they became involved in many aviation activities including volunteering with the Wright B Flyer Association, The National Museum of The United States Air Force, Wright State University Special Collections and Archives, Aviation Trail, 2003 Committee, and the Archives at Carillon Park.

While he was at The National Museum of The United States Air Force he was involved in the first WWI Fly-in. Wayne was the founder of the B-52 Stratofortress Association. A gathering will be held at Newcomer Funeral Home, Beavercreek Chapel, on Friday, October 23, 2015, from 4:00 pm-5:00 pm with a memorial service at
5:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice of Dayton Colonel Waynec. Pittman

Silver Star
Vietnam War
Service: United States Air Force
Rank: Captain
Batallion: 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
Action Date: June 17,1968
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-2683 (August 29, 1968)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Wayne Creekmore Pittman, Jr. (AFSN: 0-55581), United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as Navigator Systems Operator of the 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, in action in Southeast Asia on 17 June 1968. On that date, Captain Pittman flew an unarmed reconnaissance aircraft deep into hostile territory to obtain vital intelligence data.

Despite intense and accurate anti-aircraft and automatic weapons fire which damaged his aircraft, he completed his mission completely disregarding his own personal safety. The information gained through his courageous act contributed directly and materially to the Allied intelligence collection effort in Southeast Asia. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Pittman has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force

Wayne Creekmore Pittman Jr

March 16, 1937- October 5, 2015
Cemetery: U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery

Wayne Pittman graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado, Class of 1959. He retired in 1989 as a U.S. Air Force Colonel.

Biography of Wayne Pittman

Colonel Wayne C Pittman retired from the United States Air Force in 1989 after 34 years of service, beginning as a cadet at the Air Force Academy in 1955. As a navigator, he spent most of his career in operations, starting out as a crew member in the B-52 Stratofortress, where he eventually logged more than 2300 hours. In Southeast Asia, he flew tactical reconnaissance in the RF04 Phantom out of Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base, Vietnam, completing 186 combat missions.

Awards Received - Silver Star - Vietnam War

A gathering will be held at Newcomer Funeral Home, Beavercreek Chapel, on Friday, October 23, 2015, from 4:00 pm-5:00 pm with a memorial service at 5:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice of Dayton

Colonel Wayne c. Pittman

Biography of Wayne Pittman

Colonel Wayne Pittman retired from the United States Air Force in 1989 after 34 years of service, beginning as a cadet at the Air Force Academy in 1955. As a navigator, he spent most of his career in operations, starting out as a crew member in the B-52 Stratofortress, where he eventually logged more than 2300 hours. In Southeast Asia, he flew tactical reconnaissance in the RF04 Phantom out of Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base, Vietnam, completing 186 combat Missions.

The Schools Signboard, in the background, is building 105 The school Auditorium, behind that, is Building 123 the water tower at Site 1.

Toddlers Line up Waiting to board the coaches which will take them to and from School under the care of the Junior Air Police in the left background is building 123 the water tower at Site 1.

Standing at the entrance to the air base at Burtonwood are the young boys and girls who comprise of the air police, They all wear white hats and armbands. American children join air policy. The U.S. Air Force in Britain has borelied 15 children in their air police, They are all under 16 and have been formed in an area police squadron.

Wearing their distinctive white hats and their armbands, two members of the Air Police at Burtonwood, they are Wayne Pittman of Alexandria, Louisiana, and Carol McGingan of Long Island, New York. American Children Join Air Police: The U.S. Air Force in Britain have enrolled 15 children in their Air Police. They are all under 16 and have been formed in an Air Police Squadron.

Their duties include keeping discipline among their fellow pupils, giving first aid to children, and enforcing road safety. The squadron is stationed at Burtonwood, the American airbase in Lancashire. All the boys and girls are the children of servicemen of the U.S. Air Force. when on duty they wear an armlet and distinctive white berets

Colonel Wayne Pittman, 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron From March 1968-March 1969, Capt. Wayne Pittman, 12th TRS, flew on 186 RF-4C combat missions over North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. He could not reveal his classified missions over Cambodia, so he had this patch made as SEA MISC (Southeast Asia Miscellaneous). (U.S. Air Force photo) The date of the image is unknown.

Below is a Letter by Carole Hertel about her Father Sgt. Louis A. Schaefer

"My Dad was an airplane engine mechanic at RAF Burtonwood from August 1943 - August 1945.

His name is Sgt. Louis A. Schaefer and I only recently discovered this is where he was during the war.

My Dad passed in 1988 and I hope to learn more about his time there.

He had his A&P license from Rutgers University in New Jersey and worked for Wright Aircraft in Paterson NJ before the war."

Photos of Sgt. Louis A. Schaefer in front of a crashed B-17, and in his best uniform.

"I was looking at the information about the Burtonwood site and found it interesting thank you.

My Dad was there at one time.

He was at a few sites around Uk fixing planes.

This was his pass.

I don’t know why he didn’t surrendered it?"

Mary Gwynne

"RAF Burtonwood: The 8th United States Army Air Force, Station 590
Base Air Depot 1.

Above is a photo of a B-17 from RAF Burtonwood Warrington during WW2.

This B-17 Only served the last few weeks of the war.

Assigned 8th AF on 6th March 1945.

Lieutenant Combs on oil consumption B. U. S.

Flight photo shot by Baxter in the other B-17 during WW2.

Credit to James B. Tunison.

Visit to Burtonwood by Bob Hope

British-born American entertainer and comic actor is known for his rapid-fire delivery of jokes and one-liners and his success in virtually all entertainment. Born 1903 Died 2003.

On arrival at Burtonwood, gold stars were pinned to the shoulders of Bob Hope's jacket and he was made an Air Force general for the day.

Given his new authority, he instructed the base personnel to ‘enjoy yourselves, smoke and take the rest of the day off’.

Bob was given a tour of Burtonwood and joked and chatted while handing out promotional packs of cigarettes.

United States Army Air Force Douglas C-47-DL Skytrain (MSN 4769) to USAF 25 October 1942, bailed to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE), Boscombe Down, Wiltshire late 1942.

To Oran, Algeria on 22 January 1943.

Allotted to the 43rd Troop Carrier Squadron, 315th Troop Carrier Group, Ninth Air Force, at RAF Spanhoe (Station 493). - 8th AF, UK 14 May 1943.

In a landing accident at the USA depot RAF Burtonwood, UK (Station 590) on 16 April 1943 and condemned by 31 October 1944.

Photograph date late 1942, whilst at the A&AEE. Date: 1942

A photo from
Helen Wakefield Cook

My grandfather Ralph Crosby
at USAAF Base Air Depot 1
station 590 Burtonwood
from 1943

Photos below received
from Lynn Bennett

BRD Site Ken Wards
toolbox June 1945

Photo Credit Ken Ward

Left to Right - Jinx Falkenburg,
Bob Hope, Dolores Hope,
RAF Commanders' Wife,
Irving Berlin 1948

Ken in the Hydraulics
Section June 1945

Machine Lathe June 1945

Jerry and Frank at the
Soda Fountain June 1945

Double Nissen Type dining
hall building incorporating the
Soda Fountain is located at site
6 opposite the Technical Site

The building in the background
to the right of the photo is
building number 50 the Guardroom
Warden's office at the Technical Site

The Soda Fountain bar

Location plan of the double
Nissen-type dining hall building
incorporating the Soda Fountain
Mess Section at Site 6

Staff Sergeant
Paul D. Neumann

Nationality: American
Unit: 8th Air Force
Location: RAF Burtonwood England
Date: 1943 - 1945
Survived the war: Yes

Paul D. Neumann recalls...

"I was trained as an electronics technician by the Air Force and shipped to England in the largest convoy ever to sail up to that time. It consisted of 22 troopships, 16 destroyers, and the battleship Arkansas.

I did some research a few years ago to get all the information I could about the convoy (designated UT-3). We landed in Liverpool on 18 Oct. 1943. Some of the Air Force people were sent to RAF Burtonwood near the town of Warrington.

The buildup leading to the great bombing missions soon to come brought more troops than the base could accommodate and hundreds of us were billeted in aircraft hangers in which double-deck bunks were jammed.

They were cold and drafty so colds and other ills were common. RAF Burtonwood was the name of an aircraft maintenance and repair depot built by the British in 1938-41.

When the U.S. entered the war and began sending Air Force units to England in preparation for the air war and it was decided to use this large base for the supply and repair of U.S. aircraft.

The first units arrived about 11 April 1942. The base was officially handed over to the 8th Air Force in October 1943, a few days after I arrived from the U.S.A. It grew into a huge operation that repaired aircraft, manufactured parts, and rebuilt engines on a huge scale which served all of the U.S. air services in the EAME Theater.

I am told that at one time there were 18,000 people at work there, including British civilians, members of the RAF, and of course American civilians and members of the 8th Air Force.

On the evening of 5 June 1944, I was drafted, along with many others at RAF Burtonwood, to help load C-47 transports and CG4A Waco Gliders with men and equipment. This went on far into the night. Most of them took off before daylight on 6 June.

There was more of the same early in the morning of 6 June. We got some rest, food, and sleep late in the afternoon. The base was returned to British control soon after the war but was used again by the U.S. during the Berlin Airlift and served American air and other services until it finally closed in 1993.

I served at Burtonwood (BAD#1) for most of the next 26 months with short tours of temporary duty (TDY) at BAD #2, Wharton, BAD #3 at Langford Lodge near Belfast Ireland, and with the 390th Bomb Group at Parham, Suffolk. In October 1945 I was transferred to the 2003rd Ordinance Maintenance Company, which operated a bomb dump near Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire, in order to get a ride home.

I left Southhampton on 5 December 1945 on the Queen Mary, was discharged at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin on 22 December, and reunited with my 3-year-old son on the 23rd, just in time for Christmas.

Paul D. Neumann

Donald L Kramer at USAAF Station
590 Burtonwood During WWII

"WE KEPT EM FLYING"

Donald L. Kramer sailed to England in the spring of 1943 aboard the liner Queen Mary along with 18,000 troops and a crew of 3,000, crossing the Atlantic in 4 ½ days. Upon arriving in England, he was assigned to the 16th Depot Repair Group at Burtonwood No. 2 near Warrington, about halfway between Manchester and Liverpool.

The Army Air Force had just established this massive service depot operation to support the Allied air offensive against Germany, labeling the two depots Burtonwood No.1 and Burtonwood No. 2

“The airplanes would come into the depot, and all of the parts that needed to be overhauled would be taken off the plane and sent to the various shops. I worked at both depots fixing carburetors, so I worked in the engine shops.

One depot worked on inline engines for fighter planes like the P-51, while the other worked on radial engines for the B-17s and B-24s. We retrofitted 700 or 800 P-51s with a water injection system which gave them a short-term burst of power.

It was a lot like working in a factory, just like back home. Once the various shops finished their work, the plane would be re-assembled and flown back to the fighter or bomber group.

We kept ‘em flying,” ... he remembered.

A snapshot showing one of the endless
poker games in the barracks at Burtonwood
No. 2 Kramer remembered that
as a staff sergeant, he

"got a cot right next to the stove.
It didn't put out too much heat
but it kept the ice off the windows."

The poor G.I. on the cot in the
foreground looks cold (he's wearing
his jacket) and utterly exhausted:

he is fast asleep despite the rowdy
card game going on just a few feet away

Sergeant Donald L. Kramer at left with
best friend Claude Loe of Cygnet, Ohio
on the right in a photo dating from 1944
while both men were stationed
at Burtonwood No. 2

Kramer is wearing an enlisted men's
service cap and heavy wool overcoat
while Loe is wearing an overseas cap
and dress uniform

He displays ribbons for Good
Conduct and European Theater service.
His left lapel shows an engineering collar disc

USAAF American personnel who worked in
hangar 6 at Mary Ann site station 590
Burtonwood during WW2

Robert Weynand and some unknown friends
standing in front of the Chapel House pub at
Liverpool Road Great Sankey in Warrington

Robert is in the middle of the back row

Picture courtesy of Robert Weynand

Then (above) and
now (below)

USAAF American personnel who worked
in hangar 6 at Mary Ann site station
590 Burtonwood during WW2

Robert Weynand and some
unknown friends standing in
front of the original Red Lion Inn
Pub at Warrington Road Penketh

Robert is in the middle of the back row

The building on the left is the Union
Bank of Manchester and was also
at some point the post office

In between the pub and
the bank is Chapel Road

Picture courtesy of
Robert Weynand

A visit of Representatives of the town
council Chief officers and Warrington R.D.C.

To Burtonwood Aerodrome
October 16th 1953

United States Air Force ceremonial
handing over of the US flag at
Warrington Town Hall 1950s

A photo of the American Donut Dugout
at Pinners Brow Orford Lane Warrington
that was used by Burtonwood airbase
servicemen during world war II

Donut Dugouts” were canteen facilities
set up at various locations during World
War II where a soldier could pause for
a cup of coffee, a donut (Official Red
Cross Donut Recipe), and a bit of friendly
conversation that offered him a familiar
and reassuring connection with home."

A visit by William Franklin Graham Jr the famous American evangelist at the United States Air Force Base at Burtonwood Warrington England on the 11th of May 1954

William Franklin Graham arrived
by air at the USAF Burtonwood
Airbase on the 11th of May 1954

William Franklin Graham Jr. (November 7, 1918 – February 21, 2018) was an American evangelist and an ordained Southern Baptist minister who became well-known internationally in the late 1940s. He was a prominent evangelical Christian figure, and according to a biographer, was "among the most influential Christian leaders" of the 20th century.

Graham held large indoor and outdoor rallies with sermons that were broadcast on radio and television, with some still being re-broadcast into the 21st century. In his six decades on television, Graham hosted annual crusades, evangelistic campaigns that ran from 1947 until his retirement in 2005. He also hosted the radio show Hour of Decision from 1950 to 1954. He repudiated racial segregation and insisted on racial integration for his revivals and crusades, starting in 1953.

He later invited Martin Luther King Jr. to preach jointly at a revival in New York City in 1957. In addition to his religious aims, he helped shape the worldview of a huge number of people who came from different backgrounds, leading them to find a relationship between the Bible and contemporary secular viewpoints. According to his website, Graham preached to live audiences of 210 million people in more than 185 countries and territories through various meetings, including BMS World Mission and Global Mission.

Graham was particularly close to Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson (one of Graham's closest friends), and Richard Nixon. He was also lifelong friends with Robert Schuller, another televangelist and the founding pastor of the Crystal Cathedral, whom Graham talked into starting his own television ministry. Graham's evangelism was appreciated by mainline Protestant denominations, as he encouraged those mainline Protestants who were converted to his evangelical message to remain within or return to their mainline churches.

Despite his early suspicions and apprehension, common among contemporaneous evangelical Protestants towards Catholicism, Graham eventually developed amicable ties with many American Catholic Church figures and later encouraged unity between Catholics and Protestants.

Graham operated a variety of media and publishing outlets. According to his staff, more than 3.2 million people have responded to the invitation at Billy Graham Crusades to "accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior". Graham's estimated lifetime audience, including radio and television broadcasts, topped 2 billion by 2008.

As a result of his crusades, Graham preached the gospel to more people in person than anyone in the history of Christianity. Graham was on Gallup's list of most admired men and women a record 61 times. Grant Wacker writes that by the mid-1960s, he had become the "Great Legitimator": "By then his presence conferred status on presidents, acceptability on wars, shame on racial prejudice, desirability on decency, dishonor on indecency, and prestige on civic events.

Billy Graham on an outdoor stage
at Burtonwood Preaching the
Gospel of Jesus Christ

Graham preached to some
215 Million people throughout
the world in his lifetime.

Part of the huge crowd that attended
the Billy Graham Event at Burtonwood
airbase on the 11th of May 1954

A close-up of the crowd that
attended the Billy Graham Event

Supply Sergeant Richard Long is
the last American Airman to leave
the giant Burtonwood Airbase
near Warrington

Sergeant Long is seen here on the
main runway with his wife Anne and
his six children playing Baseball
on the 28 May 1965

Aldon Fergusons Facebook group
Aldon is the RAF Burtonwood association,
founder and honorary lifetime president

Click on the interesting
links given to us by Aldon.

https://www.facebook.com/130265297004798

https://www.rafburtonwoodheritagecentre.co.uk

Thanks to Gary Skentelbery
for this photo & article on the
Warrington World Website

The Burtonwood GI Brides pictured
here inside the White Hart pub

A group of Warrington women, who became known as the Burtonwood GI Brides are pictured at the White Hart pub, prior to embarking on a new life across the Atlantic.

Now Aldon Ferguson, founder and UK President of the Burtonwood Association, is seeking help in identifying the women ahead of next year’s UK Reunion.

Aldon said: “The photograph shows a group of GI Brides who married GIs from Burtonwood but had to wait until after the war before they could travel across the Atlantic.

“It was taken in the White Hart Hotel in Warrington in late 1945. They travelled to the US in large groups, many on the Queen Elizabeth or Queen Mary, to New York where they were initially met by their husbands.

“The authorities then stopped that and told the husbands not to travel to New York to meet them. Instead they gave the brides, often with children, train tickets and sent them all over the US to their new homes. It must have been quite an ordeal as they had never left home before, never been to the US and many had never seen their husbands in civilian clothes as they were always in uniform.

“They had a new family to go to and could only communicate with home by letter. Most marriages survived and we still have many GI brides as members of the Burtonwood Association. They do however, tell stories of how hard it was at first although they were generally welcomed into the family. The only problem would be when the GI told them he lived in a huge ranch in Texas and they found him in a poor district in Chicago or similar!”

Aldon added: “Of course many , many marriages continued after the Americans came back to Burtonwood in 1948 and still continued right into the 1980’s to the US Army personnel there.

“We are having our next Reunion in Warrington in May 2020 with the slogan ‘2020 – Looking Forward’ and we will have several GI brides join us then.

“It would be wonderful if anyone can name any of the brides on this photo.

The photograph came from Edith Kratzer (front row, 4th from left) who married in 1951 but she entitled it ‘War Brides 1945’ so the date is questionable. She was nee Astle, married Mack Kratzer Jr (7540th Maintenance Group Depot, Feb 49 – Feb 52) at Warrington Registrar’s Office on 4 October 1951. Edith worked on the base as a telephone operator for four years 1948 – 1952. Mack died 3 Oct 1996. Edith was last known to be living at, Kokomo, IN.

Does anyone recognize
these Warrington ladies?

I believe that they worked in the office at RAF Burtonwood during the 1950s for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron USAF.

Dave Eaton from Warrington replied saying that the girl with the name Marg at the bottom right of the photo is his sister.

Erin Buckley also replied saying:

"well, we are almost 100% sure that is my Auntie Margaret (Margaret Allcock nee Chapman).on the photo she is first, on the left front row, We weren’t aware she worked at RAF Burtonwood as we thought she worked at Rubery Owens so we are just trying to make the connection xxx"

Any help regarding the photo please email Me at:

[email protected]

William Richardson's Motor Pool Driving Permit in the 1950's

William Richardson's Letter of Promotion

Various Photos of the Goose Bus with William Richardson & Personel

Emergency Mirror

Mark Richardson at the Terminal

Non Commissioned Officers
Club Xmas Menu 1950's

Family Xmas Card 1956

Christmas party at Burtonwood in
1944 for the local children.

The man in the middle and the boy to the right met
in the Burtonwood heritage center 66 years later.

Louise Carey Rockey Graduation
at Scripps College June 1942

First Lieutenant Louise Carey Rockey Evans.
WAAC/WAC, Serial Number L903406, U.S.A.,
and England 1942- 1946

Louise Carey Rockey was born in Portland, Oregon, in November 1921. Her family had lived in Portland for three generations. Her maternal grandfather, Judge Charles H. Carey, was a noted lawyer, author, and historian; her paternal grandfather, Dr. Alpha Eugene Rockey, was an early Portland physician.

Carey wanted to join the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) but was unable to do so because she was not yet 21. After graduation from Scripps, to mark time until her November birthday, she attended the San Francisco School of Fine Arts. She signed up in San Francisco for the WAAC on 2 December 1942, receiving a call-up in January 1943

In England, Carey was assigned to Headquarters HQ 8th Air Force Bomber Command in Earls Colne, Essex (about 60 miles NE of London. The Command flew primarily Martin B-26 Marauders (medium bombers) and A-20 light bombers. She had very little seniority and was an administrative officer there.

Following D-Day, Carey was reassigned to the 8th Air Force at RAF Horsham St. Faith near Norwich on England’s east coast (about 120 miles northeast of London), the home of B-24 heavy bombers. There, she was attached to the 458th Combat Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. As operations officers, Carey and three other WACs performed administrative work, such as keeping track of where the aircraft was.

Carey was on duty in the operations office on 18 August 1944 when a pilot named Charles S. “Sam” Evans miraculously landed his B-24 with a broken wing on an emergency runway at RAF Woodbridge about 40 miles south of Horsham (CPT Evans was returning from a bomb run over France), while she was still stationed at Horsham, Carey met up with Sam Evans and they began seeing each other. and were later to get married.

First Lieutenant Louise Carey Rockey, Mess
Officer at RAF Burtonwood England 1944

In the fall of 1944, flying was reduced enough that four WACs were not needed in the operations office. Carey was transferred in October to RAF Burtonwood in Warrington, halfway between Manchester and Liverpool on the west coast, and about 170 air miles northwest of Norwich.

At Burtonwood, she was promoted to First Lieutenant and appointed mess officer (one of her jobs was to censor all letters written by her staff). She overheard an enlisted serviceman remark to another, “Well, we got us a new mess officer and it’s a damn lady.” More than 3,500 meals were prepared and served every 24 hours

Upon Carey’s transfer to Burtonwood, they visited as often as they could. Carey would take the train to London where she would meet Sam, or from London on to Horsham (Norwich) where they would meet. She would do the reverse to return to Burtonwood (Warrington). Sam and a few of his crew members once tried to fly her from Horsham to Burtonwood in a B-24.

The weather was so bad over the Burtonwood airfield that after circling it for about 20 minutes, he flew back to Horsham, meaning that Carey had to take trains, via London, back to her base at Burtonwood.

Sam and Carey were married on 6 September 1946 in Portland. They moved to Richmond, California, to finish college. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts at the University of California at Berkeley; she earned a Master of Fine Arts, also at Berkeley. Taking advantage of the GI Bill, they lived on stipends of $125 per month each. In 1949 they settled, and have since resided, in Portland.

During his time in the USAAF, Sam Evans became the rank of Captain and carried out 30 combat Missions, and earned 2 Distinguished flying crosses.

Charles Sam Evans passed away on 31 December 2016
Louise Carey Rockey Evans passed away on 6 October 2019
They left 4 Children, 6 Grandchildren, and 1 Great-Granddaughter.

Pilot Charles Sam Evans 1st on the left-back
row in front of their Consolidated B-24 Liberator
at Horsham St Faith England May 1944.

Charles was Assigned to the 8th Air Force,
458th Bombardment Group Heavy,
of the 753rd Squadron

USAAF (RAF) Burtonwood
(Cheshire/Lancashire)

Aerial Image of USAAF Burtonwood on
the 10th of August 1945 by 541 Squadron

Overlay of 1955 USAF Burtonwood Airfield
Plan On Top of 2015 Google Aerial View

Landing Charts

Burtonwood Landing
Chart - September 1951

Burtonwood Landing
Chart - December 1954

Burtonwood Range
Chart - September 1951

There are different approach charts for each of the runways at Burtonwood

The chart shown here is for runway 27 which was the most used due to the prevailing wind.

The chart shows to arrive overhead on a heading of 275 degrees, with the height dictated in the chart to the bottom left it shows the Procedure to fly east on 275 degrees for ten miles, then initiate a rate of one turn to the left onto 046 Degrees then a 180 turn onto 226 degrees.

Then turn right onto 271 degrees, descending to be at 1,000 feet above the overhead marker radio beam pointing upwards and also looking ahead to land.

If the ground could not be seen at 560 feet the instruction is to climb and go around again. The 10-mile circle on the chart is only to judge the distance and is not indicating a zone.

Note this chart is dated before runway 09/27 was extended to the East, and also no localizer beacon was installed at Burtonwood at this time period.

Target Dossier For Burtonwood
Lancashire England

German Luftwaffe target maps
of RAF Burtonwood Warrington
Lancashire England Date 1942

Image credits to the Imperial war
museum for Non-Commercial use

target dossier for padgate
lancashire england

German Luftwaffe target maps of
RAF Padgate number 3 recruit training center
Warrington Lancashire England date 1942

Target Dossiers Pertaining
to the British Isles

10 138 Manchester-Barton 13 km NO
GB 10139 Manchester - Ringway 20 km
OSD GB 10297 Burtonwood 6km W GB
10 407 Puddinglake 23km SSO m 4

Rhitiver und paffiver Luftfdyuty
detl Bewadjung M 5

Image credits to the Imperial war
museum for Non-Commercial use

1st Basic Air Depot Burtonwood

As Captain, Fret, and Lieutenant Kollew look on, Major, Keating presents a diploma to S/Sgt, Jean Bratcher, a member of the First Graduating class of the B-29 School during Graduation ceremonies at
Burtonwood Air Force Base, England, on the 18th November 1949.

I took this shot just as we were
coming in for a landing in a C-47
- Note B-17s and P-61
black widows June 1945.

B-45 Tornado Undercarriage
collapse in 1953.

Results of an accident to a G I bus belonging to the 5th A.P. group

The accident happened while returning
to camp from Warrington during WWII

Burtonwood group photo
Credit to Victor Davies

The iconic American jeep at the
Burtonwood United States Air Force Base
Warrington England during 1952

The American flag is raised during WW2 for the transfer of the
Burtonwood Air Depot to the United States 8th Air
Forces Service Command 15th July 1942

Building number 8 on the left of the flag is the Burtonwood
repair Depot site Headquarters, during the late 1950s
this building become the United States Air Force
Dependents School having moved from site 1

World War 2 Photo Looking West

In the background the J type hangar on
technical site can clearly be seen

In the background to the right is the 3 earthed covered
hangars next to the high level water towerer on E site

In the foreground is the east perimeter track

All our photos that we took in the RAF Burtonwood Airfield .

For more information about RAF Burtonwood visit the RAF
Burtonwood Archive on the 'Airfield Findings' page.

Where is it?

RAF Burtonwood is just outside the town of Warrington.

What is it?

RAF Burtonwood was an expansion programme airfield. It was constructed as an aircraft storage and repair depot.

What were the main sites?

There were 5 main sites on the airfield :

A site with 2 K type hangers,

E site with 3 L type hangers,

G site with 3 L type hangers,

Tech site with 1 K type hanger and 1 J type,

and Mary Anne site with 3 C type hangars.

There was also a site off the airfield known as BRD site, it was constructed as a factory.

What about the Runways?

There was 3 runways at RAF Burtonwood :

04/22 was 4200 FT long,

09/27 was 5280 FT long,

and 15/33 that was 4248 FT long

What about the Sub sites?

There were also 7 sub sites for living accommodation.

Site 8 Header house was opened in 1954 as a warehouse.

What about the Control towers?

There were 3 control towers :

One was a fort type 207/36 and was made of concrete.

Another one was a watch office for all commands. Its reference number is : 12779/41, it had small windows to 15371/41

The last one was a post war USAF tower.

Can you give us some Brief History about RAF Burtonwood?

The airfield first opened on April 1940, with 37 maintenance unit moving in .

The USAAF moved in on the 15th July 1942 and was called Base Air Depot 1 for repair and modification of aircraft.

The airfield returned to RAF use on June 1946.

Controll was handed back to the USAF in September 1948.

In 1951 the USAF expanded the base with extensions of runway 09 / 27 to 9000 FT and 250 FT wide , a new controll tower was constructed in 1953 on Tech Site.

What is RAF Butonwood like now?

RAF Burtonwood is now completely demolished apart from taxi ways between E and A sites and the odd bit of fencing.

WWII USAAF BAD1 Burtonwood Trench Art From One of Our Members

Early this week we received an email from one of our members and he told us about an aluminium sign that he says was made from WWII aircraft alloy that he has in his possession.

So we asked him to send us a photo of the item and he has given us permission to publish it along with his message below.

"Hello Sir ,

I'm Nigel , and I've just spent a good while perousing your great website.

Very interesting .

I write Sir ,because I have a nice item from the old Burtonwood Airfield.

It's a Sign basically or the raised elements from said sign.

It's made from scrapped USAAF Aircraft Aluminium that much we know , it features a B-17 in semi profile the wings and star of the USAAF and banner logo with the legend "Base Air Depot No1" all as seperate parts and is roughly sand cast made locally on base the whole assembly is around 2-3 feet square .

I have the parts mounted on a piece of felt covered MDF just for display now, but would love to know if You might know where abouts on the airfield it was originally?

We've had it a long time.

And I'm keen to know a little more about it if possible .

I'd be glad to send photos if you'd be interested in seeing it .

Many thanks for Your Time Sir, and Very best regards Nigel."

This is a Souvenir Poster From One of the Many Open Days at the
Header House at Burtonwood During the US Army's Occupation

The administration
department at Burtonwood

The administration department at Burtonwood
carried out a huge undertaking during world war 2.

There was 18,500 US personnel on
base including many women.

In addition, Burtonwood controlled more than 20 other
bases spread across Britain so it had a combined
responsibility for well over 60,000 personnel.

It operated 24 hours a day, seven days
a week with three eight-hour shifts.

Boeing B17E - 41-9175 on the
16th of March 1943 with 'A'
site in the background.

Photo USAAF

P38 Lockheed Lightning
During Maintenance

P38 Lockheed Lightning During Maintenance

P-38 Lightning Maintenance Burtonwood England

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress undergoing
Maintenance at Burtonwood during world war II

P-51 Mustangs Lancashire
England 25th of February 1944

B17's on Dispersal

bell P-400-Airacobra at Burtonwood
on the 16th march 1943.

The aircraft appears to be
on Site 1 facing South.

Personnel of the Base Air Depot 1
outside Nissen huts at Warrington.

Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Left to right- Pop Raddle,
G Basson, Dick Kingston, W [illegible] "Me", Steve Paras.'

P47 Thunderbolt CV-S, serial number 42-22468 nicknamed
Geronimo of the 359th Fighter Group has crash-landed

Official caption on image

GAD-35-I-100][12-5-44[]222468- BURTONWOOD

Famous visitors to visit the base included: Comedian Bob Hope and Singers
Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole, Vera Lyn & Joe Loss and also Major
Glen Miller the famous USAAF Band leader

Left To Right - Major Glenn Miller at one of his concerts with
Love Dust on the 27th of July 1944 at Burtonwood.

(Photo USAAF)

Left To Right - Joe Loss, Vera Lynn and Major Glen Miller outside Building
226 on Mary Ann Site during a concert visit on the 15th of August 1944.

Shortly after this photo was taken Glen Miller flew to Twinwood farm in
Bedfordshire and then onto Paris. However, his aircraft never arrived
at Paris (presumably) having crashed in the English Channel.

(Photo by Wally Baldwin)

Glen Miller Photos Credit Jerry Migoski

Glenn Miller is on the right and on the left
is Second Lieutenant Donald Haynes.

He was Miller's administration officer at
Burtonwood Air Depot on 15 August 1944.