Stretton / HMS Blackcap

[Lt Cmdr ( A )]

RNAS Stretton situated 3 miles South East of Warrington in Cheshire was the Fleet Air Arms main Aircraft Maintainence Yard, ( A.M.Y.) and was used for training and disembarked squadrons from carriers on convoy duty berthing in Liverpool. At her heyday she was as big and as important as her near neighbour RAF Burtonwood. Sadly all that is left is the main runway, taxiways and perimeter track, along with a few hangars scattered here and there.
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn251/Fleetairarm/AerialPicofBlackcap2003.jpg

[Robin]

Hi Lt Cdr, I well remember cycling out to Stretton in the late 1950s to stand at the end of the runway and watch the Wyverns land on, what a fantastic sound they made, also went on a couple of visits to the Station organised by the MGAE, there were always a selection of aircraft to see.

Robin.

[mawganmad]

You lucky so and so Robin, I believe Stretton was also at one time home to the FAA training facility for teaching pilots how to land on carriers (complete with the carrier equipment), I think they had based Attackers for this role.

[Lt Cmdr ( A )]

Hi mawganmad,yes you are correct, 767 Squadron FAA arrived at Stretton on 20th September , 1952 equipped with Firefly F4's and Sea Furies, eventually equipped with Attackers and Avengers and Sea hawks. They were designated as Landing Signal Officers Training Squadron or " Batsmen ".

They main runway had a Dummy Deck Landing Area painted on it the exact same dimensions as the decks of the current carriers. In an aside they were nicknamed " Clockwork Mice " owing to the monotonous job of executing some 2000 landings per year training the D.L.O.

[Lt Cmdr ( A )]

Control Tower at H.M.S. Blackcap, early 1960's

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn251/Fleetairarm/Scan10006.jpg

[Lt Cmdr ( A )]

Another view of Control Tower, showing Rescue Tender Shed at side.


http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn251/Fleetairarm/Scan10005.jpg

[LFT]

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd11/DJ17DJ/USAMay2008665-1.jpg

[PNK]

Runways and peri track are remarkably intact south of the motorway.

[Jamesb]

Hi all,

I've visited this airfield on a few occasions. Following closure the Airfield was rented by Shell Oils as a test track for high performance engine oils, hence why the perimeter track is in such good condition. I don' think it's been used by Shell for quite some years now, but on my last visit it was in reasonable condition. Shell have some small 'Portakabin' type offices and a raised 'Control/Obs tower' on one side of the field, marked on the picture. Both were empty and very damp when I went.

The bottom end of the runway is occasionally used for Police driver training. It is a very cold and windy place! A word of caution though, access is via the front garden and driveway of an adjoining house, so unless its an official visit i don't think the casual visitor would be encouraged. Unless you can find another way in that is?

James

[REF]

Some photos that I took at Stretton on 7 October 2009

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb198/Flyer719/CHESHIRE/Stretton/20091007Stretton2-1.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb198/Flyer719/CHESHIRE/Stretton/20091007Stretton4-1.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb198/Flyer719/CHESHIRE/Stretton/20091007Stretton6-1.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb198/Flyer719/CHESHIRE/Stretton/20091007Stretton8-1.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb198/Flyer719/CHESHIRE/Stretton/20091007Stretton12-1.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb198/Flyer719/CHESHIRE/Stretton/20091007Stretton13-1.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb198/Flyer719/CHESHIRE/Stretton/20091007Stretton15-1.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb198/Flyer719/CHESHIRE/Stretton/20091007Stretton18-1.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb198/Flyer719/CHESHIRE/Stretton/20091007Stretton19-1.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb198/Flyer719/CHESHIRE/Stretton/20091007Stretton21-1.jpg

[tigger]

In 2004 'Antrobus Heritage' published a book about HMS Blackcap. Written by Derek Enfield (who lives locally) it contains quite a few photos and personal stories. During the preparartion Derek collected quite a large number of photos that weren't used in the original book and most were subsequently reproduced in a second book.
For locals with an interest in Blackcap's history the first is well worth tracking down (I don't have a copy of the second and must ask Derek if he has a spare left!).

[Jon H]

Chances of flying ever returning to Stretton look rather slim given it is being lined up to be a race/test track -

http://www.appletonautodrome.com/

Jon

[Carnaby]

http://www.appletonautodrome.com/
The first slide states: 'The site was requisitioned by the MOD and the Aerodrome was built for the Fleet Air Arm.'
Wrong and wrong; it was built as a fighter station for the RAF to defend Manchester and Liverpool.

Not a good start for a presentation!

Graham

[tigger]

In the area looking at houses yesterday so decided to see if the pikeys had trashed the Shell site yet...

VHF beacon site:
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267/trunktemp/Airfields/Blackcap/DSC_1446.jpg

Shell test site buildings:
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267/trunktemp/Airfields/Blackcap/DSC_1461.jpg
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267/trunktemp/Airfields/Blackcap/DSC_1462.jpg
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267/trunktemp/Airfields/Blackcap/DSC_1458.jpg

First picture is the entrance gateway with their fuel store just behind the fence.

Behind the fuel store are the workshop entrances shown in the third photo and the observation rooms. To the right of this are some open garages.

Dispersal pen and shelters as taken from the eastern observation room:
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267/trunktemp/Airfields/Blackcap/DSC_1456.jpg

Most of the airfield to the south of the M56 is easily accessible from Crowley Lane and the peritrack (REF's photo of the runway extension earlier in this thread is taken from the lane)

[tigger]

In a moment of madness I decided to have a look at 'something' using google streetview:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267/trunktemp/Airfields/Blackcap/Blackcap_PCB_google-streetview.jpg

It's the telephone exchange building from Blackcap (it was at some point converted into a cattery which leads to people thinking it was for RAF dogs)

(done as a screen capture rather than live google link)

[tigger]

Now to try a live link to something that people are less likely to photograph at Blackcap - the site of the entrance gateway to the long gone Eagle Communal site:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=warrington&sll=51.47994,-0.292168&sspn=0.019671,0.055747&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Warrington,+Cheshire,+United+Kingdom&ll=53.352684,-2.542048&spn=0,359.986063&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=53.352768,-2.541867&panoid=2gYc7nC3VDQTnTKuBA41fQ&cbp=12,158.95,,0,5

How about a combined view of aerial and street views, a couple of the old hangars on the AMU site:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=warrington&sll=51.47994,-0.292168&sspn=0.019671,0.055747&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Warrington,+Cheshire,+United+Kingdom&t=h&layer=c&cbll=53.355354,-2.53191&panoid=iU6IRyCbRwdA_8h_I4H2qg&cbp=11,319.49,,0,1.79&ll=53.355354,-2.531909&spn=0.001153,0.006212&z=18

[tigger]

Back to my own photography again.

Battle Headquarters:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267/trunktemp/Airfields/Blackcap/DSC_1486.jpg

Main access is blocked with rubble.

[spargazer]

Stretton brings to mind lines of Seafires up for the chop (100s), 3 have been restored and are airworthy; ATC AEFs in a Dominie (Rapide type), Attackers leaving scorch marks on the tarmac, and a Pawnee using it in the 70s for bug bashing. There is a small private grass strip to the south that was home to a Stearman.

[tigger]

A couple more photos of the BHQ to show the extent of flooding.

Main ops room
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267/trunktemp/Airfields/Blackcap/DSC_2283.jpg

Photo taken from the main entrance to the BHQ (enough space for the camera but not me!)
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267/trunktemp/Airfields/Blackcap/DSC_2286.jpg

[REF]

This photo is from Michael Dawson anlong with the following question:


Could one of you clever people please confirm what these buildings were used for, on or close too, Royal Naval Air Stations in WW2 ???

I thought they were Radar stations (training purposes), but now I have been told they are Radio stations!!!! Help

and


This photo is at Stretton, I am just using it as an example ad the was a near identical one at HMS Ringtail at Burscough. I have a photo of this one on the way dated 1945, but there seems a little confusion as to what the buildings are exactly.

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb198/Flyer719/ALL%20OTHER%20PHOTOS/AiX%20miscellaneous/Stretton.jpg

Can anyone help?

[tigger]

It was the RADAR site, here (http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm?lat=53.33025468507074&lon=-2.5370317697525024&gz=19&oz=8&gt=1). Notable as it was the first to house joint military and civil air traffic controllers when it became "Northern RADAR".

The picket post and tractor shed still exist in reasonable condition. The radio huts were in very poor condition last time i was up there.

The wireless transmitter site had a single building, here (http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm?lat=53.35591132205887&lon=-2.5477713346481323&gz=19&oz=9&gt=1), with the aerial arrays around the outside of the visible rectangular area.

Also see: http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/community/showthread.php?3995-Northern-Radar-Antrobus-%28Stretton%29

[carmedic]

Visited Stretton on the 21st April. Access is very easy via the eastern entrance which is part of the peri track extention and is now frequently used by dog walkers

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/carmedic/Stretton/DSCF1098_4626.jpg

southern dispersals
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/carmedic/Stretton/DSCF1099_4627.jpg

rear entrance to the Type B fighter pen shelter
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/carmedic/Stretton/DSCF1100_4628.jpg

inside the Type B fighter pen shelter
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/carmedic/Stretton/DSCF1106_4634.jpg

The Shell buildings have been attacked by the local youths
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/carmedic/Stretton/DSCF1108_4636.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/carmedic/Stretton/DSCF1117_4645.jpg
eastern observation room
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/carmedic/Stretton/DSCF1110_4638.jpg
western observation room
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/carmedic/Stretton/DSCF1114_4642.jpg

[carmedic]

southern taxi way looking west
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/carmedic/Stretton/DSCF1111_4639.jpg

southern taxi way looking east
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/carmedic/Stretton/DSCF1115_4643.jpg

front entrance to the Type B fighter pen shelter
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/carmedic/Stretton/DSCF1119_4647.jpg

hangar on the private strip that uses part of the NE taxy way as a runway
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/carmedic/Stretton/DSCF1116_4644.jpg

CFM Shadow on the NE private strip
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/carmedic/Stretton/DSCF1126_4654.jpg

looking down the main runway from the eastern end
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/carmedic/Stretton/DSCF1128_4656.jpg

SW taxy way
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/carmedic/Stretton/DSCF1129_4657.jpg

There is now a microlight strip just outside of the SW boundary of the old airfield know as Barley Hay

thanks for looking

[REF]

Can anyone give me any idea of how many hangars were built at Stretton? Also, how many still survive?

Thanks

[Carnaby]

From the two Admiralty Controlled Books:

1944

4 Squadron 60 by 70 by 20 ft
4 Squadron 60 by 70 by 17 ft
1 Blister under construction
One ARS (185 by 105) on north side of airfield at repair yard (storage under construction - planned for 25 aircraft)


1945

4 Teesside 'S' 60 by 70 by 20 ft
6 Mains 60 by 70 by 17 ft
1 Blister for ATC gliders
Workshops at repair yard. (Storage now planned for 300 aircraft)

[REF]

Thanks Graham!

[kev123]

I had the opportunity to visit this place today, wow what a huge site! I did not expect it to be this big and in such a good condition.

Will be going back soon, I am after a site layout or map if anybody can help?

Thanks