Largest WW2 airfield, in fact prob the biggest military base in WW2

[kfz]

One of the great things about studying WW2 is that wherever you live your not that far from its history. I live spitting distance from RAF Burtonwood or whats left of it. Burtonwood was the largest airbase in Europe in WW2. IT was never an operational base but a repair and supply station for US forces in the whole of Europe.

Originally a large facility for the repair of US engines in use in Briitsh aircraft, when the US joined the war Burtonwood was given over to the Yanks. Warrington was quite a small town and the huge US base must have had a big effect. The base (as its called round here) was used to supply the active squadrons with spares, replacment aircraft direct from the US or from Liverpool docks. Between 1943 and 1945 the base moved over 11000 aircraft, normal compliment of on base personel was around 18000 men and women.

I'll fill out this thread as I get time. Got some great pics.

Here a pic to get started. Boxes and boxes of Radial Engines, so many they where left outside.

[kfz]

Heres a pic of B17's nose to tail all over the field. This aircraft (about 30+ in this shot) newly arrived from the states a ferryed over without operational fittings and little in the way of markings, whould be fitted out as repleacemnts for losses.

[kfz]

Heresa Pic of a converted B17 to the H2S radar system.

Not much information on this but I guess for leading aircraft in bad weather, I think this was later adopted by the USAF as standard and much of the conversion work was done here at Burtonwood.

[kfz]

Typical picture of therm ain hardstanding outside the new control tower. Name the aircraft.

[kfz]

B24 Librators being refitted for carpetbagger (special) operations. You can see the underside is painted black with all gns and turrets removed.

[adrian roberts]

Originally Posted by kfz

Typical picture of therm ain hardstanding outside the new control tower. Name the aircraft.

Front to back -
Early model P47 Thunderbolt
Harvard
Norseman
Dakota (or C47 Skytrain if American)

[Andy in West Oz]

Originally Posted by kfz

Heres a pic of B17's nose to tail all over the field. This aircraft (about 30+ in this shot) newly arrived from the states a ferryed over without operational fittings and little in the way of markings, whould be fitted out as repleacemnts for losses.

Great post Kfz. From the looks of the tails on the B-17s, it looks like they have the Cheyenne tail turret so late '44 early '45?

[kfz]

Originally Posted by adrian roberts

Front to back -
Early model P47 Thunderbolt
Harvard
Norseman
Dakota (or C47 Skytrain if American)

Yep, I recokn your right.

I have pic of the moulds for casting the one peice canopies. Which I guess was an essantial mod.

I'll dig it out.

Kev