County airfields' part in war

By Chester Chronicle on Nov 26, 08 11:20 AM in 1900-1945

CHESHIRE airfields had a massive hand to play in the Second World War, according to leading historian Aldon Ferguson.

At the height of the conflict the county had nine operational airfields, with six of them purpose-built to aid the war effort at Calveley, Cranage, Stretton, Poulton, Little Sutton and Tatton Park, while airfields at Ringway, Hooton Park and Woodford were already in existence.

These nine airfields were used by the Royal Air Force and many war-time fighters and bombers were built, while thousands of pilots, navigators and paratroopers were also trained, according to Mr Ferguson's new book Cheshire Airfields of The Second World War.

The book explains in depth what has happened to all nine of the airfields since the war, with only two of the sites, Ringway and Woodford, still operating.

The other seven have been built over or returned to quiet fields.

Cheshire Airfields of The Second World War is published by Countryside Books, priced £12.99, and available at all good bookshops or direct from the publisher at wwww.countrysidebooks. co.uk.

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