RAF Burtonwood was probably the largest military base in Europe during World War II, processing over 11,500 aircraft between 1943 and 1945 alone, but beyond that it was responsible for the support of initially the 8th Air Force, then additionally the 9th and ultimately the 12th and 15th Air Forces as well. Over 35,000 men were under the direct control of Burtonwood with 18,500 on the base itself. Nothing was too big or small, from rebuilding battle-damaged bombers to manufacturing valve springs for aero engines, manufacturing timber packing cases or converting gliders into powered aircraft.

After World War Two Burtonwood returned to the RAF for two years as a maintenance unit and then reverted to the USAF in 1948 to support the US bases here, and it undertook all the major servicing for the C-54 Skymaster aircraft involved in the Berlin Airlift. Major redevelopment took place with the construction of the Header House on Site 8, the extension of the runway to 9,000ft to be one of the longest in the UK and the construction of the new control tower and passenger terminal. After eleven years of maximum use, the mission reduced and by 1965, the base passed back to RAF control. Two years later, however, the US Army took command and remained there until its closing in 1993, albeit occupying only a fraction of the original site.

The main runway now forms the base of the M62 motorway. RAF Burtonwood celebrated its Fiftieth Anniversary on 1 April, 1990.

Facts and Figures

The following schedule was prepared by Colonel William Arnold, Chief of Maintenance Division at BAD I, and is the total production at BAD I, Royal Air Force Burtonwood between I July 1943 and 8 May 1945.

                            30,386

Burtonwood (AAF 590) contained the HQ of all maintenance of aircraft and support equipment throughout the British Isles including storage and some bomb sights. The following is a list of the bases controlled by BADA together with their compliments as at 31 March 1945.

Value $50M, 1,823 Buildings, 2.5 miles of runway, 3.5 miles of perimeter track, 28.76 miles of road, 4.05 miles of railway track. Total Area -1,253 acres.

4,006,852 sq ft of covered facilities comprising:

1,263,442 sq ft for Supply and Storage; 1, 112,965 sq ft for Shops and Technical Operations; 1,629,445 sq ft for Administration and Housing.

7,096,181 sq ft of open facilities. Original surfaced area 781,200 sq ft. Including Canada Hall, Living Site total accommodation for 18,063 personnel.

250,000 British visitors. 800,000 cups of coffee per annum. 3,000 British cars purchased. 46,800,000 telephone calls made. 50,000 photographs taken by base photo lab. 11,000,000 miles covered by Base Motor Pool. 25,000,000 passengers carried by Base Motor Pool. 6,500 Americans married English girls. 600,000 Coca Colas served. 23,381,200 gallons of petrol consumed.

18 miles of surfaced roadway. 4.65 miles of railway track. 13 hangars. 1,054 nissen huts. 22 warehouses covering an area of 3,535,990 sq ft. 16.85 miles of fencing. 1,471 acres. 3,940,740 sq ft of aircraft parking apron.

The Burtonwood Association

The Burtonwood Association was formed in 1987 to maintain the records and history of the work undertaken at Burtonwood and to remember all those men and women, British and American, who have served there or have an interest in the base. Also it was established to allow ex-personnel to maintain contact with one another throughout the world and as a means of disseminating material relating to activities there throughout its history and at the present time.

Anyone is welcome to join the Association; those who served there as civilians or military are entitled to full membership and interested parties may become associate members. Widows of serving personnel are also especially welcome.

For more information and an application form please write to the following:

Aldon P Ferguson

18 Ridge Way

Wargrave

Reading

Berkshire RG 10 8AS

England

US

Burtonwood Assn., Inc.

101 Temple Circle

Lynchberg, VA 24502

United States of America

Or visit the Burtonwood Association web site at http://www.burtonwoodbase.org/

The contents of this page are taken from the book Royal Air Force Burtonwood by Aldon P. Ferguson. The AEHS sincerely appreciates Mr. Ferguson’s generosity in allowing the use of this material. His book, ISBN 0-9511113-1-0, is available from: Norma Singer, 229H Whitestown Village, Butler, PA 16001-6663, USA.