ACQUISITION

COMMISSIONED

01 September 1943

CLOSED

May 1946

PAID OFF

15 June 1946 to Care and Maintenance Status

Transferred to Admiralty Dockyards department 05.05.55

C.O.

Commander (A) J.F. W. C. Hawkins (act) Sept 43

FUNCTION

Day and night fighter facilities. Torpedo facilities.

ADDRESS

R.N. Air Station

Burscough

Nr. Ormskirk

Lancashire

LOCALITY

The airfield lies adjacent W of the village of Burscough, and on the NW. side of the main road running SW, to Ormskirk, distant 1 mile. Liverpool, at the mouth of the Mersey, lies 10 miles SW.

LANDMARKS

Liverpool Bay, the town of Liverpool and the Mersey river. The airfield lies in the western fork of the right-angle intersection of two railways. The Leeds Liverpool canal running E/W close N. of the airfield and having a branch running NE, from a junction close S. of the railway intersection.

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

Main road to Ormskirk and Liverpool, forming the SE. boundary of the airfield. Railway stations at Burscough Bridge 1 mile NE., Burscough Junction and Ormskirk on L.M.S. line to Liverpool. Stores requiring use of crane should be sent to Burscough Bridge station, others to Burscough junction.

CONTROL

Control Building outside the perimeter track, on the E. side of the landing area.

Keeps watch on Naval safety wavelength.

Grounds signals area immediately N. of the Control building.

ELEVATION

 78' above M.S.L.

RUNWAYS

Four, tarmac.

03/21 QDM. 035° -215° .... 1.000 x30 yds. 

08/26 QDM. 080° -260° .... 1.240 x 30 yds. 

12/30 QDM. 121° -301° .... 1,000 x 30 yds. 

17/35 QDM. 170° -350° ....1,000 x 30 yds. 

TRACKS

 49' perimeter track.

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation

None.

Circuit

 None.

Approach

None.

APPROACH

No special approach recommended.

WIND INDICATOR

 Windsocks on the W. side of the landing area inside the perimeter track, and onside the intersection of the runways on the E, side.

HOMING - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

None.

HOMING--RADIO

D/F

 One H/F. V/HF. (to be fitted )

Beacons

 YG.

APPROACH - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

 Airfield lighting (Naval) and R.A.F. Angle of Approach installed.

APPROACH - RADIO

Not known.

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

M/F & H/F

One line M/F.

4T lines H/F.

VH/F

 To be fitted

GROUND RADAR

 Intermediate G.C.I.

ACCOMMODATION

Living quarters in two camps. No.1 close outside the airfield to the NE. and No.2 immediately S. on the Ormskirk road.

Capacity:

ARMOURIES

 To accommodate 4 squadrons.

COMPASS BASE

 Two,. tarmac. Diameter 70ft.

DISPERSAL

 3 A/C standings off the perimeter track, near the Control building.

HANGARS

Dispersed around the perimeter track.

MEDICAL

 Sick bay in the station area on the E. side of the airfield.

METEOROLOGICAL

 Office in the Control building. Full meteorological servicer by Naval personnel available.

FUEL AND OIL

TEST BASE

 A/C Radar test base available.

TEST BUTT

 Test butt and 25 yd. range for M.G., N. of landing area near hangars.

WORKSHOPS

 A.R.s. and Reserve Servicing hangars listed above. Workshops to 4 -0 6 squadron scale.

EXPLOSIVES

 Explosives area on the NW. side of the airfield. Practice stocks to provision 1 T.B.R. and 4 F.R. squadrons.

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

Air to air

 One

Information taken from CB 4368 B. Admiralty Handbook of Naval Air Stations Aug. 45