NorthWest Exploration Forum

NorthWest Exploration Forum (http://www.nwex.co.uk/index.php)
-   Military Sites (http://www.nwex.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=25)
-   -   Former Speke Airport (South Side) - Liverpool - july 2010 - (http://www.nwex.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7766)

georgie 17-07-2010 14:09

Former Speke Airport (South Side) - Liverpool - july 2010 -
 
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
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/DSCF2317.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/DSCF2316.jpg

bullet damage
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/DSCF2315.jpg
access hatch on rear wall
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/DSCF2321.jpg

electrical switchgear enclosure
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/DSCF2327.jpg
then onto the rather impressive long pillbox
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/DSCF2349.jpg
you can make out the door at the end
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/DSCF2348.jpg
lookin back up from the entrance
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/DSCF2347.jpg
and looking down into the box
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/DSCF2340.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/DSCF2341.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/DSCF2342.jpg
some electrical stuff on the wall
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/DSCF2344.jpg

further on along the old airfield theres another pillbox
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/DSCF2352.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/DSCF2353.jpg

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
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/DSCF1715.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/DSCF1727.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/DSCF1731.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/DSCF1711.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/DSCF1710.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/DSCF1707.jpg
various wings
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/DSCF1724.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/DSCF1725.jpg

and the engines
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/DSCF1718.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/DSCF1721.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/DSCF1709.jpg

Earth Worm Jim 17-07-2010 14:16

Loving the old aircraft. Must pull my finger out and do some more airfields.

Blino 17-07-2010 19:50

Wow, great report and pics. The old aircraft looks ace!

n10694 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:

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...4/DSCF1971.jpg

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

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...DSCF0010-1.jpg

Gone 18-07-2010 04:26

Brilliant! That plane is fantastic :) I'll be down this week to see that shit :cool1

Reddood 18-07-2010 11:43

nice explore

georgie 18-07-2010 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by n10694 (Post 124997)
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:

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...4/DSCF1971.jpg

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

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...DSCF0010-1.jpg

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

good to see them hamilton tops put in a mueseum aswell

andym 19-07-2010 13:10

Interesting, I didn't know they were restoring that Brittania there. A very graceful looking aircraft.

n10694 20-07-2010 13:01

Link to the Brittania website: brittania

kevsy21 22-07-2010 22:31

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

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...l/DSCF1078.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...l/DSCF1051.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...l/DSCF1094.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...l/DSCF1042.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...l/DSCF1092.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...l/DSCF1088.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...l/DSCF1110.jpg


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:09.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
© 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.