7 things you might not know about Burtonwood Airbase

There is little physical evidence to remember of it now but Burtonwood airbase became the largest military installation in Europe after the Second World War.

Its history has been highlighted in a new book by historian Janice Hayes, the A-Z of Warrington, which is out now.

So here are some things you might not have known about Burtonwood.

1 15,000 aircraft spent time at Burtonwood

Technicians of the USAAF assembled and maintained more than 15,000 aircraft, including every B17 Flying Fortress, the 8th American Army Air Force’s main bomber, which flew in the Second World War.

Over 15,000 aircraft spent time at Burtonwood, including the famous Memphis Belle, but no aircraft ever took off from Burtonwood to attack enemy targets.

2 GLEN MILLER GAVE HIS LAST LIVE PERFORMANCE AT THE BASE

Janice also says the arrival of the Americans had a huge social impact on the town.

She added: “The American GIs became a familiar sight about the town while the noise of engines from the test beds was heard day and night.

“The Yanks brought music, glamour and a foreign culture of baseball, burgers and soda fountains.

Bob Hope arriving at the base

“Hollywood glamour came too with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and James Cagney boosting morale, while the legendary Glen Miller gave his last live performance at the base.

“The GIs spent their dollars in Warrington’s pubs, cinemas and dance halls and flirted with local girls.”

3 IT WAS KEY TO THE BERLIN AIR LIFT

Burtonwood airbase also played a vital role in the Berlin Air Lift, when the German city was cut off by the Soviets of 1948 and through the era of the Cold War.

Between 1948 and 1958 the base expanded to cover Burtonwood engine test beds preparing USAAF aircraft for active service.

4 IT WAS BIGGER THAN HEATHROW TODAY

In 1967 Burtonwood became the largest US base in Europe and the base’s mile-long Header House warehouse stored everything the US Army might need in the event of war in Europe.

It was larger than Heathrow today

5 IT WAS STILL IN USE IN THE FIRST GULF WAR IN THE EARLY 1990s

During Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War and the parallel conflict in Yugoslavia in the early 1990s it was rumoured that the supply depot held everything from a safety pin to a Sherman tank.

Once the US Army pulled out of the base in 1993 its fate was effectively sealed.

6 THERE WERE PLANS FOR IT TO BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

In 1965 plans for a Burtonwood International airport failed to get off the ground when the Ministry of Aviation decided against a third regional airport there.

The main runway disappeared with the construction of part of the M62 motorway along its length.

7 FRED DIBNAH DEMOLISHED A CONTROL TOWER

On 17 April 1988 a symbolic landmark disappeared when demolition expert Fred Dibnah felled the ‘new’ control tower.