The history of Calveley Airfield

Calveley Airfield was planned as a night fighter base for the defence of the cities of the industrial North West, such as Manchester and Liverpool. It was to perform as a satellite to the day fighter base at Atcham (Shrewsbury) in the Ternhill Sector, but by the time the Airfield was complete there had been a change of plan and Calveley was relegated to serve only as a flying training station.

1941: Construction begins

Airfield construction commenced in 1941 and because it was to be used by twin-engine fighter aircraft types, it was furnished with three concrete runways and a perimeter track, but only a few aircraft dispersal points. However, three T2 type of steel hangars were erected, together with four Blister types, dispersed around the airfield perimeter. Aircraft firing butts were also provided and several dispersed living areas were sited towards the village of Wardle, which could accommodate over 1400 personnel.

1942 to 1944: Flying training command

The station was involved in providing advanced flying instruction to recently qualified pilots, who were destined much later in their careers for fighter squadrons. The main activity was circuit and landing practice, and these were performed both by day and night.

1945 to 1946: Post war

With the war coming to a close, activity started to decline and on 31st May 1945 all flying ceased. Like so many empty stations, Calveley Airfield was used for housing a surplus aircrew for the next few months until at the end of 1945 a post-war flying school was formed and it was issued with thirty Harvards.

In 1946, The RAF were not keen on keeping any of the wartime airfields similar to Calveley, so as soon as permanent stations became available they were quick to move the flying units into them including those from Calveley.

From 1956 onwards: Air Ministry sold the site

Calveley was subsequently taken over by Maintenance Command, and for the next ten years it served as a sub-site to the aircraft maintenance unit at Hawarden, who used it for storage purposes and not for any form of flying.

In 1959, the Air Ministry finally sold off the site. By 1980 the runways had been broken-up, although the perimeter track was left along with the gun-testing butts.

PROUDLY WORKING WITH LEGAT OWEN & FISHER GERMAN TO DELIVER THE PARK

LEGAT OWEN
Mathew Pochin
01270 621005
mattpochin@legatowen.co.uk

Legat Owen,
Albion House,
Albion Street,
Chestern
CH1 1RQ

FISHER GERMAN
Edward Clark
01244 409660
edward.clark@fishergerman.co.uk

Fisher German,
4 Vicars Lane,
Chester
CH1 1QU

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