Stretton

This is the threshold of runway 28, RNAS Stretton in Cheshire. It was also known as HMS Blackcap. It was originally planned as a Royal Air Force night fighter station, protecting the cities of Liverpool and Manchester from Luftwaffe air raids during World War II. Changes in German tactics (they stopped bombing British cities) meant that the airfield was no longer required and so it was transferred to the Admiralty on completion; three runways and numerous hangars had been built.

Runway 10/28 was originally 1,600 yards long but at some point it was extended to a length of 1,960 yards. It looks like a go-kart track has been built on this part of the runway.

This is Crowley Lane and this public road is part of the perimeter track of the airfield.

Turning to look the other way along Crowley Lane. The airfield is on the left of the fence and this is the threshold of runway 28.

Moving to the west end of the airfield and this part of the perimeter track comes round to the threshold of runway 10. RNAS Stretton was commissioned as HMS Blackcap on 1 June 1942. A total of 41 Fleet Air Arm Squadrons were based here for varying periods with some aircraft being flown directly to and from aircraft carriers operating in the Irish Sea and other nearby waters.

This is runway 10 threshold. The crash barriers are here because SHELL used the airfield to test high performance engine oils.

Standing on runway 10 threshold looking east along the main runway.

A long lens shot looking east with the intersection of Runways 10/28 and 03/21. Very little remains of the buildings of the airfield which has been split in two by the building of the M56 motorway. Some hangars have been put to industrial use on the north side of the motorway in the Appleton Thorn Industrial Estate.

This structure stands on part of runway 03/21, I do not know its use. From 1944 HMS Blackcap was also used as an Aircraft Maintenance Yard (AMY). At the end of the war American naval aircraft (Hellcats, Wildcats, Corsairs) were flown into RNAS Stretton to be broken up for disposal.

This may have been a large greenhouse, I do not know. In 1947 the Fleet Air Arm decided to form Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Squadrons. The first to be based at RNAS Stretton was 1831 Naval Air Squadron, a fighter squadron, which was reformed here on 1 June 1947. It was joined on 18 August 1952 by 1841 Naval Air Squadron, an anti-submarine squadron. Together, these two squadrons comprised the Northern Air Division which was formed at Stretton on 1 June 1952 and disbanded on 10 March 1957 together with its constituent units.

The large white cross painted on the runway indicates to a pilot that the condition of the runway is unknown should a landing be required. 767 Naval Air Squadron, operating Supermarine Attackers, was also based in Stretton until 1957. The last squadron based at HMS Blackcap was 728B Naval Air Squadron, formed on 13 January 1958 to operate Fairey Firefly U.9 target drones.

The threshold of runway 10. The airfield was closed on 4 November 1958.