Chance to hear memories of Burtonwood airbase Flight Test Crew

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BURTONWOOD Association President Aldon Ferguson is bringing the memories of the Flight Test Crew back to life with a special online talk later this month.

He says the Flight Test crew were an amazing bunch, their leader, Dewey Ott, was a charismatic leader who he got to know well.

He was also the cousin of the base Commander, Brigadier General Isaac Ott, who was a powerful man with a huge role to play.

Aldo said: “Due to their relationship they spent a lot of time in each other’s company during WWII and Dewey gave me all the information he could from the top.
Dewey and his pilots would fly many ‘test hops’ in a day and it was nothing for him to fly four different types in one day. The ground crew, many of whom were our members, would fly in the multi- seat aircraft on the tests, so they could detect and rectify any faults.
“I got to know many of the guys and have their photo collections and amazing memories – sadly all have passed on now.”
The Flight Test Division at Burtonwood did, what its name suggests, perform all the test flights of all aircraft produced at the base, prior to delivery to their respective unit.

Aldon added: “Collectively they gave me first-hand memories and information about the flight and how it operated and the different types they flew – all types. They also had a very close relationship with air traffic control and the Alert and Readiness Flight who were responsible for all visiting aircraft. Between them, they have given me hundreds of photos and I will use these, and their memories, to illustrate the intense work, and also their leisure time.

The next RAF Burtonwood Association Zoom talk is planned as follows:
Subject: Flight Test at BAD#1 , RAF Burtonwood, 1943-46
Date Monday 27 January 2025
Time 19.00 UK time
Duration One hour plus Q&A afterwards
Cost FREE
Registration E-mail me at [email protected]
Media Zoom, once registered I will send the link a few days before
Friends Everyone is welcome so please spread the word, but everyone must register with me direct please.


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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.

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