Looking for info WW2 Airfields in Morecambe

[lifeboat1721]

Hi folks,

I am looking for info ie "Proof" pics etc.

I know for a fact that there used to be an Airfiled in Morecambe on what is now "Whitelund Estate" and that was called either raf Morecambe or Lancaster, and that there was a pilot traing ground at Heysham and they were on what is now the Estate by the "Helipad" and used to fly from the beach.

There was also a Large fuel reserve at Heysham, and that there was a small "Polish" squadron based at "Caton" tasked to protect it.

Morecambe itself was used as a Training area and square bashing for the RAF and the Midland was a hosplital.

I would love to see some pics of the old bases.

Here is a link if you are interested

www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/search/index.shtml?scope=ww2peopleswar&q=morecambe&x=0&y=0

Ian

[trevnhil]

Hi Ian.
Well your post here is the first that I have heard of an airfield at Morecambe. And I would be surprised if it was at White Lund. I started work at White Lund working for a joinery company called 'Hustlers'in 1957. And even then I would not have thought there was room for an airstrip.

I do know that one of the entertainers at the winter Gardens travelled to Morecambe in a small plane. That used to land in the fields next to the straight stretch of Oxcliffe road.

How do you 'Know for a fact' that there was an airfield there.

I wish you luck in your search, and maybe someone on here can help.

Keep us updated please.

Regards. Trev..

[ukuleleron]

There was an airstrip on Whitelund, If I remember right it ran more or less where the main road runs through the estate. I remeber someone testing a racing car there in the 60`s before the proper road was made up. It was big concrete squares IIRC.
This website says there was an airfield at Scale Hall. Probably the same one.
www.abct.org.uk/airfields/Scale-Hall-Lancaster--Morecambe.php

There are tales of a wartime airfield at Heysham, but I don`t know just where, possibly just a grass airstrip. Maybe a Googley Earth search will offer up some clues.

[lifeboat1721]

Hi Trev, and thanks to ukuleleron for the link.

Trev Many years ago I had small pocket book that sadly has got misplaced and in it was a list of All the Military and Civil Airfields in the Uk used during the war.

The daft thing was I was talking to an retired Bowler who's father was a Mechanic at "Raf Morecambe"

www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-m.htm#Morecombe

I think the grid ref puts this one near the harbour so that was probably the "Training" Base.

I have a pall who is mad on local History and he is trying to find a book he has which shows pics etc of the bases.

Regards
Ian

[lifeboat1721]

Hi Trev,

It was Pre ww2

National Aviation Day Displays
DISPLAYS in connection with Sir Alan Cobham's
National Aviation Day Campaign will be held as follow: —
June 18, Bradford, Municipal Airport, Yeadon ; June 19,
Sherburn-in-Elmet, The Aerodrome ; June 20, Leeds,
Middleton Park ; June 21, Skipton, Waltonwrays, Carleton
Fields ; June 22, Ripon, The Racecourse ; June 23,
Preston, Mete House Farm, Walton Bridge, Fishwick ;
June 24 and 25, Lancaster, Scale Hall, Morecambe Road ;
June 26 and 27, Blackpool, The Municipal Aerodrome,
Stanley Park ; June 28, Fleetwood, The Foreshore ; June
29, Kendal, The Agricultural Show Field ; June 30,
Carlisle, Orton Grange, Wigton Road ; July 1, Alnwick,
Greensfield Moor Farm, Morpeth Road.

www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1932/1932%20-%200586.html

Ian

[Sir Wilcomb]

I believe there was an airstrip or airfield somewhere in the vicinity of Asda.

[trevnhil]

Well you do seem to be on the track of something that was there Ian.

I cannot find a 1949s aerial photo. The nearest I can find is a 1969s one. I was hoping that there would be some trace of it still showing then. The pic is below. Asda is dead centre, but not yet there. And Scale hall station is on the far right.





Good luck. Trev..

[lifeboat1721]

I had been told that it was called "Morecambe" or possibly "lancaster" But it was called "Scale Hall" Now that I know the Proper name of the Airfield this is where I went to,

And "Bingo" www.content-delivery.co.uk/aviation/airfields/

www.content-delivery.co.uk/aviation/airfields/ScaleHall.html


I would have thought that it might have been what is now the A683 but it may still have been on White lund estate.

All I need is some picks to prove it.

Ian

[WillowTheWhisp]

Would there be photos if it was a war time airfield?

[lifeboat1721]

Well it was used in between ww1 and ww2 so I would have thought that some one somewhere would have taken some kind of photo..

You also had the press guys who took pics of crashed planes etc just like the Soco's do for the police.

It was actually classed as "Royal Flying Corp" RFC,

scroll down to Mickdavis and he has a full list.

1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t81124.html

Ian

[mpprh]

This is what I think I remember from articles in the Visitor, talking to elderly local people and reading books on local history :

The airfield dated from WWI. I understand that it had a munitions factory in the same location that exploded in 1917. During the inter war years every town saw air traffic as the future and planned to have a local airport. There were proposals for an airport on the White Lund site, but never materialised.

In WW2, there was RAF activity in Morecambe, but no airfield. The activity was :
243 Sqn (No 9 School of Technical Training (28 Dec 1939 -17 May 1942)
No 3 WAAF Depot (1 Oct 1941 - 30 Nov 1942)
Air Crew Training Wing (Polish) (2 Dec 1943 - 14 Nov 1945)
Sub-site, No 61 Maintenance Unit (xxx 1947 - 13 Jul 1949)

This is from my personal experience :

In the 1960's, you entered what is now the industrial estate from the Westgate side - I don't think there was a through road to Ovangle Rd.
There were a few buildings including MEECO, a small cash & carry, and Messrs Price (builders) who had a storage area.
There was a car scrap yard.
There was also the remains of a perimeter road.
In the centre was the remains of the airfield with signs on the security fence saying "Danger, No entry". I remember throwing my bicycle over the fence, clambering over myself and exiting by the same method near the Salt Ayre landfill site (always fascinating for small boys !). There were the remains of what may have been runways in the middle of the fenced off area.

I remember a group of us getting old cars started on the scrap yard and driving them on the rough roads in 1963ish. I was 11, and the cars were pre war !

Later I remember racing motorcycles around the roads - say in 1969 ish .

I think the old airfield was cleared and the industrial estate construction started around 1969.

Incidentally, Westgate, was the road to nowhere and the current "lakes" estate and other housing projects were not constructed until the 1970's. Prior to that it went through fields before joining Regents Road.

Memories play tricks, but I think that is correct.


Peter

[trevnhil]

Hi Peter.

Well your memory seems to be doing well. Here is a aerial view of the white lund estate in the 1960s




The (white lund) gasometer is in the middle. Westgate is at the top, and the railway line. At the bottom is Oxcliffe road going into Melishaw lane.

'Hustlers' who I mentioned before, where I worked ,have a number of large sheds on the picture.

Can't see a sign of an airstrip unfortunately.

Regards. Trev..

[mpprh]

I've found some old maps ............

No trace of any buildings in 1786:



The 1948 ordnance survey map (which may not be updated post war ?) shows:



No 1 is West end pier
No2 is the likely airfield site

All a long time ago !

Peter

[lifeboat1721]

Thanks Guys,

It's odd that so many people remember it and the Airfield and Buildings but no one has any pics.

The Explosion report.
www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/nostalgia/White-Lund-Explosion.3235084.jp

And saddly Most of the deaths were firemen,

1917 Morecambe Shell Filling Factory Explosion Silver Edward Medal for Gallantry group.
Awarded to Fireman Thomas Tattersall, formerly of the Royal Field Artillery, who had been wounded on the 1st July 1916. Comprising: Silver Edward Medal “Thomas Tattersall”, 1914/15 Star “RFA”, British War Medal, Victory Medal “W-5592 Gnr RA”. Group mounted for display, Edward Medal complete with leather case. The group is accompanied by a large quantity of detailed research. (£7,000 - £8,000)
Only 25 Silver Edward Medals were awarded. The Recommendation: “Fireman Thomas Tattersall This man went direct to the upstairs portion of 6 C.Melt where the fire originated, and endeavoured himself, to put it out. He was unable to do so and then went for assistance and continued using fire hoses and extinguishers on this building until the first explosion. His conduct throughout was distinguished by extraordinary bravery”. Thomas Tattersall was born in 1899 and at the start of the Great War was working as a Clark in a Cotton Mill. Volunteering for service in September 1915 he joined the RFA and embarked for France on Christmas Day 1915. On the 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, he was wounded receiving gunshot wounds to the left arm, right leg and head. He returned to the UK and was discharged on the 26th April 1917. He was then appointed a Fireman at the No. 13 National Shell Filling Factory White Lund near Morecambe in Lancashire. On the evening of the 1st October 1917 a fire broke out resulting in explosions said to have been heard in Lancaster, Preston and Blackpool. At one stage shells could be seen flying into the night sky. The group comes with a large amount of research, indicating that originally Thomas Tattersall was recommended for the Albert Medal. It appears that no conclusionas to the start of the fire was reached, however it was narrowed down to have been started either by deliberate sabotage, most probably by an Irish Activist, or by a discarded cigarette. Thomas Tattersall had been warned for smoking and taking naps in and around the TNT store. Amongst the reports, there is one making a strong case that Tattersall felt that his character had been bought into question following a warning and he could have started the fire himself, intending to quickly douse the fire and show all that he was in fact a conscientious, reliable and able Fireman. This was only a suggestion. Thomas Tattersall was presented with his medal by King George V during December 1918.

Ian

[lifeboat1721]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the info I was only a we lad in the 60's it wasn't till the 70's when I could get around on my own and then it was to late..

This is the interesting bit

In WW2, there was RAF activity in Morecambe, but no airfield. The activity was :
243 Sqn (No 9 School of Technical Training (28 Dec 1939 -17 May 1942)
No 3 WAAF Depot (1 Oct 1941 - 30 Nov 1942)
Air Crew Training Wing (Polish) (2 Dec 1943 - 14 Nov 1945)
Sub-site, No 61 Maintenance Unit (xxx 1947 - 13 Jul 1949)

www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-m.htm#Morecombe

Comes from that link I posted before But the Grid ref it gives puts it nearer Heysham than Lancaster Ie over water and not land, That is why I tend to swing for that was used for flight traing of the beach and over the bay out of harms way.

In happy mount park there were soldiers bassed "UNDER COVER" when I 1'st heard that my ears pricked up and I asked for an explaination the reply was they were "UNDER CANVAS" as there wern't enough billets around

There was also a squadron of Mosquito's across the pond at "Millom" and there job was to protect "Barrow ship yards" and the "Fuel Store" on Walney.

Ian