RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air station which was situated 1.5 statute miles south-west of Burscough, Lancashire. The Admiralty acquired 650 acres (2.6 km2) of land in December 1942 and the airfield was built with four runways and several hangars, being commissioned on 1 September 1943.
The air station was planned to accommodate FAA day, night and torpedo fighter squadrons for their formation, training and working-up. Many FAA squadrons were based at Burscough for a period of a few weeks or months, before moving to front-line FAA bases or on to aircraft carriers for deployment in action in the European or Far Eastern war fronts.
One of the first FAA units to operate from HMS Ringtail was 809 Squadron FAA, equipped with Supermarine Seafires, it arrived from RAF Andover on 19 December 1943, then departed on 29 December when it flew its aircraft aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Stalker.
RNAS Burscough closed for flying in May 1946. Thereafter, the hangars were used for the storage of aircraft engines and other FAA equipment, under the direction of RNAS Stretton, until both airfields was disposed of in 1957.[3]
During the 1960s, civil cropduster agricultural aircraft, both fixed wing and helicopters, used the now otherwise inactive airfield as an operating base for refuelling and filling the aircraft's spray tanks.
The four naval hangars used to hold a collection of vintage busses. I guess they may have been moved to St.Helens transport museum as the hangars are now totally empty.
First hangar was locked. Cannot get in.
Runway (or taxi-way)
Not sure what this is. Fuel dump/store?
2nd hangar - note: open door.
Inside hangar 2. Note - this is not artificial lighting. It was the sun streaming in through holes in the roof & the through the door.
Inside hangar 2 - looking back at the door.
3rd Hangar
First & Second hangars.
I did photograph the other hangars from inside & outside - but they all looked the same.
The air station was planned to accommodate FAA day, night and torpedo fighter squadrons for their formation, training and working-up. Many FAA squadrons were based at Burscough for a period of a few weeks or months, before moving to front-line FAA bases or on to aircraft carriers for deployment in action in the European or Far Eastern war fronts.
One of the first FAA units to operate from HMS Ringtail was 809 Squadron FAA, equipped with Supermarine Seafires, it arrived from RAF Andover on 19 December 1943, then departed on 29 December when it flew its aircraft aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Stalker.
RNAS Burscough closed for flying in May 1946. Thereafter, the hangars were used for the storage of aircraft engines and other FAA equipment, under the direction of RNAS Stretton, until both airfields was disposed of in 1957.[3]
During the 1960s, civil cropduster agricultural aircraft, both fixed wing and helicopters, used the now otherwise inactive airfield as an operating base for refuelling and filling the aircraft's spray tanks.
The four naval hangars used to hold a collection of vintage busses. I guess they may have been moved to St.Helens transport museum as the hangars are now totally empty.
First hangar was locked. Cannot get in.
Runway (or taxi-way)
Not sure what this is. Fuel dump/store?
2nd hangar - note: open door.
Inside hangar 2. Note - this is not artificial lighting. It was the sun streaming in through holes in the roof & the through the door.
Inside hangar 2 - looking back at the door.
3rd Hangar
First & Second hangars.
I did photograph the other hangars from inside & outside - but they all looked the same.
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