Three of Lancashire’s lost and forgotten RAF bases

However, over the year many bases have been closed, abandoned and forgotten.

Some of the bases were rendered redundant after the second world war while other relocated to more spacious or compact areas.

The Ministry of Defence is constantly reviewing and changing its security and defence which is why they are coninutally opening, closing and relocation to areas in the UK.

Here are three of Lancashire’s lost and forgotten RAF stations:

RAF Kirkham

HMP Kirkham

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Martinevans123)

While it is now the site of HM Prison Kirkham, a category D men’s prison, it was once used as an RAF base.

It was built by George Wimpey and construction on the site began in 1939 before the 1940 opening date.

It was primarily used as a training camp for tens of thousands of RAF tradesmen and women.

In November 1941 Kirkham became the main armament training centre for the RAF, with different trades and courses on equipment and weapons.

From May to December 1945 Kirkham became a demobilisation centre and trained RAF boy entrants until December 1957 when it closed as an RAF base.

In 1962, HMP Kirkham opened on the site.

RAF Barton Hall, Preston

This former station was situated between the villages of Barton, near Preston in Lancashire.

This site was in use between 1940-1975.

Barton Hall was initially built for the Shuttleworth family in the mid 1700s.

However, part of the estate was used by the military back in 1939 and throughout the second world war.

It was the center for the No. 9 group in the RAF which was first formed in 1918.

One of the WAAF officers in the Barton Hall Filter Room, Eileen Younghusband (WAAF airwoman) recorded her experiences there in ‘One Woman's War’.

Barton Hall was one of three centres in Britain controlling all of the country's air traffic, both military and civilian.

Many National Servicemen as well as regular airmen were also posted there and from the early 1960s, a large contingent of Local Service WRAF helped swell the ranks of teleprinter operators, operations clerks, movement clerks and ground wireless fitters/mechanics.

RAF Warton, Warton Village, Fylde

An aerial shot of the base

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Royal Air Force/ RAF photography)
 

Warton Aerodrome is located near Warton village in Fylde.

In 1940, new runways were built here so this it could act as a ‘satellite’ airfield for the RAF Coastal Command station at Squires Gate airfield in Blackpool.

It was first used as an air depot for the US Army Air Force during World War II before later becoming an RAF station.

The prototype BAC TSR-2 at Warton plant and airfield in 1966. This was the only example to fly.

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons/RuthAS) 

After 1948, it became a British Aircraft Aerospace and was used as the testing ground for several notable front line aircrafts, including the Canberra, the Lightning the Panavia Tornado, BAE Hawk and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Warton has been home to some Typhoon squadrons of the Royal Air Force- No. 17 Squadron and No. 29 Squadron.

This airfield also played a part in a tragic event in history.

On August 23rd two Liberator bombers took off from Warton on a test flight.

One plane crashed into the Lancashire village of Freckleton- 61 people were killed.