Hi all,
Origionally designed as an RAF Night Fighter Station, to help protect Liverpool and Manchester during the bombing raids on the cities.
Due to a change of tactics by the Germans, this site was deemed unsuitable for use by the RAF, and was given to the Admilalty for use of Naval Aircraft.
On the 1st of June 1942 RNAS Station Stretton, HMS Blackcap (ALL Naval Air Stations are named after birds) was commissioned. It had 3 RAF type runways as distinct from the 4 at naval Air Stations and RAF type buildings, including an RAF type Control Tower and even fighter dispersal\al pens on the perimeter. The total complement was 1462 Officers and Ratings, including 13 Wren Officers and 104 Wrens, Blackcap also gave employment to numerous civilians from the surrounding area.
The site was Paid off on the 4th November 1958.
Unfortunatly most of the site has gone, the M56 cut the site in half, the northern part of the site, having been redeveloped as Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institute, and Appleton Industrial Estate. The south side of the site is still reconisable as an Airfield. Having been used by Oil Company Shell to test newly designed engines, the main runway is intact, but little remains of the origional buildings. A water resovour, what looks like a colapsed AA Gun site, 2 bunkers and out field storage building remain on the south side.
I use this site often to go running around, but due to the local Chav-sticks, breaking in and using it as a dragstrip, it has become a no go area.