Also known as Base Air Depot 1 · Burtonwood Army Depot
The story of RAF Burtonwood
The RAF took control again in 1946, but American use continued. B-29s of Strategic Air Command passed through from November 1946 on 'training deployments'. These covered the start of a permanent US strategic bomber presence in Europe. C-54s used in the Berlin Airlift were maintained here. From 1953 the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew WB-29s and WB-50s. Transatlantic transport flights used Burtonwood until 1958.
The flight line closed in April 1959, and the USAF returned the station in 1965. When France left NATO's military structure in 1966, the US Army brought equipment here. It ran Burtonwood Army Depot until June 1994. The runway and most buildings have since been demolished. The heritage centre stands on part of the former base.
Flying units
| Unit | Years | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| No. 37 Maintenance Unit | 1940–1942 | |
| Base Air Depot 1, USAAF | 1942–1946 | |
| 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, USAF | 1953 | WB-29, WB-50D Superfortress |
| Military Air Transport Service, USAF | 1958 | C-54, C-118, C-124, C-133 |
What survives
- The RAF Burtonwood Heritage Centre, on part of the former base
The museum on the airfield
| Museum | Adult entry | Airframes | Headline exhibit |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAF Burtonwood Heritage CentreWarrington, Cheshire | Donation | 1 | RAF Burtonwood was the biggest airbase in Europe — the US 'Home from Home' depot that fixed the Eighth's aircraft; its heritage centre… |