On the wings of time: 100 years of the RAF on the Fylde coast

As the Mayor of Blackpool (Ald Joseph S Richardson, JP) speaks at the opening of the RAF exhibition on Princess Parade, a formation of RAF Hunters fly past, in 1962

Blackpool’s two airports were used by the RAF in the Second World War.

Thousands of troops trained on the Fylde coast.

During the Second World War, RAF Squires Gate was used as a fighter squadron base as part of the protection of Liverpool, in particular to patrol the Irish Sea.

Two thousand RAF recruits gave a demonstration of physical training on the beach at their training station at Blackpool, during the
Second World War. Pic courtesy of the Imperial War Museum — Two thousand RAF recruits gave a demonstration of physical training on the beach at their training station at Blackpool, during the Second World War. Pic courtesy of the Imperial War Museum

It was also used as an RAF training base for many different types of training.

Stanley Park Municipal Airport had opened in 1931, and was commandeered in 1939, by the Royal Air Force as a technical training school. Wellington Bombers were also assembled there.

Originally Warton Aerodrome, in 1940, new runways were built, so the site could act as a satellite airfield for the RAF Coastal Command Station, at Squires Gate airfield in Blackpool.

At first, Warton was operated as an air depot of the US Army during the Second World War, as thousands of aircraft were processed on their way to active service in Britain, North Africa, the Mediterranean and mainland Europe.

The RAF band march along Blackpool Promenade during the Second World War.
It is thought that the red marking was done by the censor to prevent identification of the location. — The RAF band march along Blackpool Promenade during the Second World War. It is thought that the red marking was done by the censor to prevent identification of the location.

Following the Second World War, the airfield was designated as RAF Warton.

Warton has been home to the initial Typhoon squadrons of the RAF, No 17 squadron and no 29 squadron.

Our archive photographs give a great insight into the RAF and RAF life on the Fylde coast.