ONCE a sprawling military base, soon the last remaining relics of Burtonwood Airbase will disappear from the town’s landscape.

The final five hangers used by the United States Air Force during Second World War are being demolished to make way for the new Omega business park.

The imposing buildings were opened up to the public when giving people one last chance to see inside the hangers.

Michael Maddock, Burtonwood Association’s historian, said: “This was the biggest airbase outside of America and 18,000 GIs were based here.

“The Americans came here in 1942, they were looking for somewhere that was away from the frontline so they asked if they could have this place.”

The airbase was the main hub for repairs to the USAFs fleet and saw planes including B-17s and spitfires flying in and out.

Inside one of the remaining hangers was a mural of a plane and the association hopes that the section of wall could be saved for its museum.

Bob Hope and Glen Miller were among the famous faces to make trips to Burtonwood and Bob Hope had quipped it was the most expensive stage he had been on because it was made up from new engines.

But for the majority of the time it was business as usual for the servicemen.

Work was carried out to camouflage the site and some of the hangers were built with curving roofs and covered in grass.

“The Germans knew about this place, they took photographs and had a go at bombing it but missed.

“But they never had a good go at it, I don’t think they realised the importance of it,” added Mr Maddock.

The airbase was handed back to the RAF soon after the end of the war, but in 1948, the USAF asked to come back for the Berlin Airlift to help keep the German city fully stocked by air as the city was blocked by the Soviet Union.

The Americans once again moved back to the site in 1967 after their base was closed in France and were based their until 1993.

Since then the hangers have been used by a range of businesses including haulage companies.

News of the demolition of the hangers has reached the other side of the pond and has left many GIs who were based there sad at the site’s demise.

Sheila Waddington, president of Burtonwood Association, said: “They are very upset about it. We always run trips here on reunions. They feel it should have been kept back for these visits and keeping history for future generations.”

Many of the former servicemen have had their ashes scattered on the site.

There is no fixed date for the hangers disposal but it is expected in the coming months.