WARRINGTON’S Burtonwood Heritage Centre has written to US president Barack Obama to offer a home to one of hundreds of military aeroplanes residing in “aviation graveyards” in the American desert.
The Warrington centre – built on the site of the former US air base at Burtonwood has sent a letter to the president asking for special dispensation to look after and display one of the many aircrafts currently being stored in the “aviation graveyards” of Arizona, California and New Mexico.
The letter has been co-signed by a US war veteran who served at
Burtonwood in the 1950s. 
Around 60,000 US servicemen were stationed at RAF Burtonwood – known as the “Gateway to Europe” – over a 50-year period from 1942 spanning the World War 2 and the Cold War.
Roy Thorpe-Apps, UK president of Burtonwood Heritage Centre said: “We may not enjoy the same climate as the Arizonian desert here in Warrington but we do have the passion to care for a retired aircraft at Burtonwood.
“Thousands of Americans were stationed here during the war, Warrington’s
population grew by 25 per cent so it’s a huge part of our town’s history and make-up.
“To display a military aircraft would be the perfect way to keep the memory of RAF Burtonwood alive for the guys in America and the UK but we need the support of the USA to do that. We would do our utmost to keep it in tip top condition on behalf of the US Air Force – and if Mr Obama would like to pay us a visit to check out the centre for himself, we’d be delighted to give him and the First Lady a VIP tour.”
Jim Bentley, US President of the Burtonwood Association, flew back to Warrington for Burtonwood’s biennial veterans’ reunion and co-signed the letter to Obama with Roy Thorpe-Apps.
He said: “We’ve had a military reunion in the States every year since 1987 – we’ve just had our 26th one – and one here in Warrington every two years.
“I’m one of the youngest in the Association and I’m nearly 80. Around 7,500 of us married British girls and I was included in that – my wife and I met in 1955 and got married in 1956. We look forward to
coming back and visiting relatives and keeping the memory of RAF Burtonwood alive is so important to us all.”
Picture: Jim and Roy sign the letter to President Obama
Burtonwood centre offers home to old aircraft
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
