NorthWest Exploration Forum  
FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read
Go Back   NorthWest Exploration Forum > Site Reports > Military Sites
Reload this Page Former Speke Airport (South Side) - Liverpool - july 2010 -
Military Sites Bunkers, Pillboxes, Forts, Airfields and all ROC & cold war related stuff goes here.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Former Speke Airport (South Side) - Liverpool - july 2010 -
(#1)
Old
georgie's Avatar
georgie is Offline
Super Moderator
 
Posts: 733
Join Date: Jul 2009
Arrow Former Speke Airport (South Side) - Liverpool - july 2010 - - 17-07-2010, 14:09

Building commenced in 1930 though the site had much earlier aviation links.Officially opened IN -33 the airport soon became one of the busiest in the country.

The first military connection was in 1936 when 611 squadron R.A.F. moved in.They were soon joined by other units,and by 1939 the military prescence was so large that the airport was requisitioned by the air ministry.One of 611 squadrons Hurricanes scored the first 'kill' of the Speke units when the Czech pilot shot down a German Ju 88 bomber As the war progressed.

a shadow factory was built near the airport with the Rootes group building Blenheim and later Halifax aircraft.

Additional runways were built to make a total of 3 extra hangers and other buildiings added.The 2 main hangers were now being used by the American Lockheed and Douglas companys to assemble Mustang and P38 Lightning aircraft.

In 1946,the airport reverted back to civilian use and By the early 1970s it was deemed that it would soon be unsuitable for the increased demands of larger airliners and it was closed when the 'new' John Lennon airport was built

nowadays the old terminal building is a hotel (crown plaza) and has retained many of its original features also the hangers are now in use for commercial purposes

i always knew this first building was here but after further exploring into the wooded area you come across all sorts of features still left including a rather strange pillbox which seemed to have a very long corridor to get into it

there is an roc post also here but has been filled in with earth and rubble but you can just make out the ventalation duct through the bushes



This building was a shooting butt for the aircraft to test their guns and cannons It would be filled with sand at the rear to absorb the shells and bullets aircraft would line up in front of it and fire ........some bullet damage can still be seen on the walls




bullet damage

access hatch on rear wall


electrical switchgear enclosure

then onto the rather impressive long pillbox

you can make out the door at the end

lookin back up from the entrance

and looking down into the box





some electrical stuff on the wall


further on along the old airfield theres another pillbox




whilst on the airport theme me and kevsy21 had a little mooch behind the old terminal building (now the crown plaza hotel) a while ago and came across this and other bits and bobs..it seems to be getting resored we think











various wings




and the engines




Reply With Quote
(#2)
Old
Earth Worm Jim is Offline
Senior Member
 
Posts: 361
Join Date: Aug 2008
Default 17-07-2010, 14:16

Loving the old aircraft. Must pull my finger out and do some more airfields.
Reply With Quote
(#3)
Old
Blino's Avatar
Blino is Offline
Senior Member
 
Posts: 173
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Bolton
Default 17-07-2010, 19:50

Wow, great report and pics. The old aircraft looks ace!
Reply With Quote
(#4)
Old
n10694's Avatar
n10694 is Offline
Senior Member
 
Posts: 135
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Western Approaches
Default 17-07-2010, 20:45

Glad you made it. Both aircraft are being restored. The Brittania was a "Speke" plane, and was moved up a few years ago after it was kicked out of a hanger at Filton.

The Brittania a few years ago:



There was a pair of Pickett Hamilton airfield pillbox tops, now at the museum in the Lakes:

Reply With Quote
(#5)
Old
Gone's Avatar
Gone is Offline
Senior Member
 
Posts: 436
Join Date: Nov 2009
Default 18-07-2010, 04:26

Brilliant! That plane is fantastic I'll be down this week to see that shit
Reply With Quote
(#6)
Old
Reddood's Avatar
Reddood is Offline
Dood of redness
 
Posts: 408
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Salford (not manchester)
Default 18-07-2010, 11:43

nice explore


Visit my blog NOW - www.dspexplores.com
Reply With Quote
(#7)
Old
georgie's Avatar
georgie is Offline
Super Moderator
 
Posts: 733
Join Date: Jul 2009
Default 18-07-2010, 20:07

Quote:
Originally Posted by n10694 View Post
Glad you made it. Both aircraft are being restored. The Brittania was a "Speke" plane, and was moved up a few years ago after it was kicked out of a hanger at Filton.

The Brittania a few years ago:



There was a pair of Pickett Hamilton airfield pillbox tops, now at the museum in the Lakes:

good stuff phil cheers for that...good to see the planes getting restored

good to see them hamilton tops put in a mueseum aswell
Reply With Quote
(#8)
Old
andym's Avatar
andym is Offline
Administrator
 
Posts: 429
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chorley
Default 19-07-2010, 13:10

Interesting, I didn't know they were restoring that Brittania there. A very graceful looking aircraft.
Reply With Quote
(#9)
Old
n10694's Avatar
n10694 is Offline
Senior Member
 
Posts: 135
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Western Approaches
Default 20-07-2010, 13:01

Link to the Brittania website: brittania
Reply With Quote
(#10)
Old
kevsy21's Avatar
kevsy21 is Offline
Senior Member
 
Posts: 104
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Liverpool
Post 22-07-2010, 22:31

Good stuff m8,here are some of my pics of the planes.













Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
vBulletin Skin developed by: vBStyles.com
© 2008-2015. Photographs and text are copyright and the property of the poster unless otherwise stated, and should not be used without express written permission.
Any opinions stated by users of this forum are NOT those of the site owners, each poster takes FULL responsibility for their own posts.