[Millhouse]

RAF Croft was commissioned on the 1st July 1942, and was then a Naval Training centre called HMS Gosling. They had facilities for the training of Air Fitters, Air Mechanics, Radio Mechanics and Royal Marine Trainees. HMS Gosling was a large training facility, and had 5 camps located around RAF Croft, the first camp was located where a housing estate now lies in Croft, the main entrance was opposite Spring Lane. Camp 2 was where Risley Prison now stands. Camp 3 is the site covered by this report, and is the only remaining site. Camp 4 was located in Lowton, and camp 5 in Glazebrook. HMS Aerial was commissioned on 8th October 1942 at Cultcheth as extra housing accommodation for HMS Gosling.

On the Glazebrook site, now demolished, there are still the foundations for the buildings, and apparently Glazebrook Conservative Club is almost identical to the large theatre in Camp 3.

On the 31st March 1947, Camps 1,2 and 4 nwere bought by development companies, Camp 5 was left abandoned and was demolished in 2009. Camp 3 was taken over by the RAF, and used by the US Air Force, they would land a short distance away at RAF Burtonwood, which was the largest USAF base in the country, and then be transported to Croft to stay.
__________________________________________________ __________

Explored with Doc P, and some friends.

We have been about 5 times now, once at midnight for a mooch around in the dark The first time I got some pictures, and the last time when we used a rope ladder that I made to get up to the lookout post at the top of the theatre building.

First set - 19/07/10























Rover P5