Looking for info WW2 Airfields in Morecambe

[lifeboat1721]

Hi Folks,

This is on the RAF web site. 243 Squadron was Disbanded on 31st Oct 1944 and was reformed on 15 December 1944 at Morecambe, two days before embarking for Canada where it began training with Dakotas.

www.raf.mod.uk/history/243squadron.cfm

Ian

[WillowTheWhisp]

Aug 30, 2009 13:50:28 GMT lifeboat1721 said:

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

Oh what a shame it was such a boring explanation. It sounds quite intriguing at first with the idea of a secret army hidden away in Happy Mount Park.

Aug 30, 2009 13:50:28 GMT lifeboat1721 said:

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.

I have a bit of a thing about aircraft and one of my favourite military planes is the WWII Mosquito.

[mpprh]

Growing up in the area during the 50's & 60's I'm sure that I would know about an airfield in Heysham.

The RAF activities seem to have been non flight training and admin ?

The only mention of Heysham I can remember is that a single bomb fell there - the only one in the area.

The lack of info and photos is not surprising - info about airfields, rfc, raf, munitions etc were all subject to censorship during war time.

Peter

[trevnhil]

Willow said "I have a bit of a thing about aircraft and one of my favourite military planes is the WWII Mosquito."

We don't get many here because we use a spay to stop them biting.

Trev... Sorry I'll stay on track now.

[lifeboat1721]

Hi Peter,

I to was in Morecambe from 55 my sister was born 47 and she says that she can remember seeing raf signs etc on White lund and a lot of the Web sites say that there was something there during the war, It may have just been a pilot training school in a field And simmilar at Heysham I have been told by several people in the Village that planes used to fly from the Beech, so again it could have just been a training school.

And regards photos, they took some inside the Munitions factories so I don't see any reason why they wouldn't take them elsewhere else.

Pic 3 states White lund the others are White cross.

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

I know that they are still finding unexploded bombs/shells from sunderland point to Halfmoon bay on quite a regular basis so that was either a range or a target.. Bomb Disposal came up four weeks ago

Ian

[mpprh]

I'm pretty sure that it was the White Lund / Scale Hall airfield that was surrounded by a security fence in the 60's. I guess it said "danger" because of the risk of unexploded bombs - so perhaps I shouldn't have gone inside the fence and used it as a short cut !

It is the Heysham one that I've not heard of before. Perhaps there was some flying from the beach or even seaplane activity at Heysham ?

Interestingly, there is an exemption (even though it is close to the power station site) today allowing microlights to fly from Middleton Sands, so it is not impossible that flights were from the beach.

I also remember tourist flights operating from the beach at Bare.

Peter

[trevnhil]

Peter said.. "I also remember tourist flights operating from the beach at Bare."

The people that ran the pleasure flight from the beach at Bare. also ran them from the beach off the Heysham village slipway. When the tide started to cover the Heysham beach they would move to Bare opposite Happy Mount Park, where the tide would allow them an extra hour or two. This would be around 1960, as I was 'working' with them for a short while.

Trev..

[lifeboat1721]

It has sought of got me cursing There's so many people who remember thing's and are quite happy to tell me what there Dad/Mum/Aunt/Uncle's did but no One has got any photo's

Like the Munitions factory Everyone knew about that, it is well documented in the press and in the Museum at Lancaster. But to find a pic even of a trainer on a piece of grass with note saying "Scale Hall/Morecambe" or on a Beach with "Heysham" is getting hard.

I will have to see if my contacts are back at work in the library tomorrow.

If it wasn't true then why would there be so many people with stories

Ian

[mpprh]

Maybe some more .................

The May 1919 Flight magazine (which I happened to be browsing !) discussed the future of ex RFC/RAF airfields in peacetime : www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1919/1919%20-%200568.html .

Scale Hall is listed as a refuelling stop on the London / Manchester / Belfast route.

The routes at present suggested, together with the more
important stations (" station " being the term used for an
aerodrome or landing-place), are :—
(1) London—Scotland
Hounslow. Copmanthorpe.
Wyton. Catterick.
Harlaxton. Redcar.
South Carlton. , Newcastle.
New Holland. Turnhouse.
Doncaster. Renfrew.
(2) London—Dublin
Hounslow. North Shotwick.
Witney. Baldonnel.
Castle Bromwich.
(3) London—Manchester—Belfast
Hounslow. Didsbury.
Hucknall. Scale Hall.
Sheffield. Luce Bay.
Manywell Heights. Aldergrove.
(4) Continental Route
Hounslow. Lympne.
(5) Dutch Route
Hounslow. Hadleigh.
(6) London—Plymouth
Hounslow. Cattewater.
Eastleigh.
(7) London—Bristol
Hounslow. Filton.
Once a particular route has been declared open, the pilot
of an aeroplane making the journey will find petrol, some
accommodation, and where possible mechanics to handle
his machine at each of t h e air stations named, and the practical
value of the intimation now given lies in the fact that on
and after May 1, any individual who complies with the
terms of the regulations is a t liberty t o fly along these civil
air routes, and to make use of the stations and facilities
afforded.

This suggests that Scale Hall airfield and the munitions factory were not on the same site, or the airfield continued in use after the munitions factory exploded.

Peter

[lifeboat1721]

Hi Peter,

I have no idea of the exact location of the Munitions factory I have been sent a Very Basic map showing locations of Pre war buildings on the site the Red Buildings are supposed to be the Buildings. the only prob is it's not a good map.



The Seccond map I have been sent is one from an "AA" Book dated 1933 of a landing site called "Lancaster" It was one of many approved by them and was very Basic
;D


I will have to take a trip to the libray and see what I can find

As regards the Refueling stops I tend to agree with you and that would account for the "Tanks" that they dug up a few years ago when doing some work.

There was also a "Fuel Depot" at Heysham.
www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/community/showthread.php?t=556&highlight=heysham

And regards the "Beach" quite a few people can remember "Lysander" type Aircraft landing at "Heysham", It may have just been for Pilot trainging I just don't know.

Ian

[trevnhil]

At least it shows where the buildings are. And you can make the map bigger.

The RED buildings are where Capsticks and Battersby's are now




Trev..

[lifeboat1721]

sorry trev but it was a Small file when I got it

[lifeboat1721]

Now this show's it as a map of "Routes" in 1919. At "Scale Hall..

www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1919/1919%20-%200567.html

Ian

[trevnhil]

I see that on the Map the Scale Hall site is designated as a 'Civil Station' and not a military one.

Trev..

[accykeef]

During the war there were many airfields scattered around the country.
I am sure I have read somewhere that there was also many landing sites where an aircraft could be landed in an emergency.