Spotlight on RAF Burtonwood’s Satellite Bases kick start Spring lecutures

RAF Burtonwood historian Aldon Ferguson is set to start a series of Spring Lectures next Monday, April 10, the first focusing on the Satellite bases.

Aldon, who will be hosting the free lectures online for anyone interested said: “I am always talking about RAF Burtonwood in adjectives like huge, massive, largest, colossal, enormous, gigantic, immense, sizable, substantial, tremendous, vast, significant.
“To prove my meaning this talk will be about the 56 sub-bases administered at some point by Burtonwood. They range from Ollerton in Shropshire in October 1941 to Caerwent in South Wales until the very end, June 1993.

“I shall discuss their location, purpose and size and their overall contribution to the overall role of the RAF, USAAC, UDSAAF, USAF and US Army at Burtonwood. They range from airfields through dock detachments, ammunition stores, chemical warfare stores, subsistence stores, dispersed living sites and more.
“Some are well known, like Sealand but did you know that they include a marine base and several airfields in East Anglia?”
To register for the lecture on zoom simply email Aldon at [email protected]
The lectures last about one hour followed by a Q&A.

Other lectures to follow:
Monday April 24, 2023 Women at RAF Burtonwood
Although men were predominant at Burtonwood throughout WWII it was not totally male-dominant. WAC’s arrived in 1944 and were accommodated at Canada Hall; now part of Chester University. Hundreds of British women were employed for a huge variety of jobs which led to many GI marriages.
It is estimated that up to 6,500 British ladies married American servicemen who served at Burtonwood! It started in 1942 when Civil Service Technicians first swept them off their feet with their smooth chat, smart uniforms and dancing ability. It continued not only until the base closed in 1993 but I will relate the story of one in 1996.
In addition to the Brides, British and American women served at Burtonwood in a multitude of roles including management, nurses, secretaries and numerous support staff and in significant administrative roles after the war. This is their story.

Monday May 22, 2023 RAF Burtonwood’s Aircraft
Over 11,500 US aircraft passed through Burtonwood’s hangars from July 1943 until May 1945, excluding visiting aircraft; followed by scrapping and others returned to the US. After the USAAF pulled out in June 1946 the RAF took control and moved in hundreds of aircraft for storage. They, in turn, were pushed out when the USAF returned in 1948 to overhaul the C-54 Skymasters taking part in the Berlin Air Lift. 1,571 maintenance checks were carried out in ten months from September 1948. They gave way to every type in the USAF inventory from the tiny Vultee L-5 Sentinel to the mighty B-36 Peacemaker bomber. This is a summary of all those types that graced Burtonwood’s runways and hangars.