RAF Woodvale
Encyclopedia
RAF Woodvale is a Royal Air Force
Station located 4 mi (6.4 km) south of Southport
, Merseyside
in a small town called Formby
. Although constructed as an all-weather night fighter airfield for the defence of Liverpool, it did not open until 7 December 1941. This was just after the Liverpool Blitz
, which had peaked in May.
RAF squadrons were brought up from the south of England to 'rest' for short periods, during which time they defended Merseyside. 308 (Krakowski) Squadron was the first to arrive, on 12 December 1941, from RAF Northolt
. Squadrons were rotated regularly. Several were Polish, including 315 (Dęblinski) Sqn and 317 (Wilenski) Sqn. Spitfire
IIs and Vbs were operated by these units.
Support units working with all three Services also served there, calibrating anti-aircraft guns and towing targets for the Royal Navy. In April 1945, Woodvale briefly became a Tender for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm airfield at Burscough, HMS Ringtail, being given the name HMS Ringtail II.
After a period of inactivity, Woodvale reopened on 22 July 1946, when the Spitfire F14's of No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force
, moved here from Liverpool Airport
at Speke
. The squadron re-equipped with Spitfire F22's in June 1948. Gloster Meteor
F4 and T7 jets were flown between 1950 until 9 July 1951. Because of the need for better facilities, the Squadron moved to RAF Hooton Park
, joining No. 610 Squadron, where it remained until its disbandment on 10 March 1957.
No.5 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-Operation Unit moved to Woodvale on 1 January 1958, and operated target-towing Meteors until 30 September 1971 when the unit was disbanded.
Since 1971, RAF Woodvale has remained a training station and is currently home to:
In 1971, RAF Woodvale hosted the first annual Woodvale International Rally, a charitable event that originally began as a model aircraft show. It has grown over the years to include car club
s with both classic car
s, vintage car
s and other vehicle displays. Now in its 38th year Woodvale rally is a large 2 day event held on the first weekend in August.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Station located 4 mi (6.4 km) south of Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
in a small town called Formby
Formby
Formby is a town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. It has a population of approximately 25,000....
. Although constructed as an all-weather night fighter airfield for the defence of Liverpool, it did not open until 7 December 1941. This was just after the Liverpool Blitz
Liverpool Blitz
The Liverpool Blitz was the heavy and sustained bombing of the British city of Liverpool and its surrounding area, at the time mostly within the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire but commonly known as Merseyside, during the Second World War by the German Luftwaffe.Liverpool, Bootle, and the...
, which had peaked in May.
RAF squadrons were brought up from the south of England to 'rest' for short periods, during which time they defended Merseyside. 308 (Krakowski) Squadron was the first to arrive, on 12 December 1941, from RAF Northolt
RAF Northolt
RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station situated in South Ruislip, east by northeast of Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. Approximately north of London Heathrow Airport, the station also handles a large number of private civil flights...
. Squadrons were rotated regularly. Several were Polish, including 315 (Dęblinski) Sqn and 317 (Wilenski) Sqn. Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
IIs and Vbs were operated by these units.
Support units working with all three Services also served there, calibrating anti-aircraft guns and towing targets for the Royal Navy. In April 1945, Woodvale briefly became a Tender for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm airfield at Burscough, HMS Ringtail, being given the name HMS Ringtail II.
After a period of inactivity, Woodvale reopened on 22 July 1946, when the Spitfire F14's of No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Auxiliary Air Force , originally the Auxiliary Air Force , is the voluntary active duty reserve element of the Royal Air Force, providing a primary reinforcement capability for the regular service...
, moved here from Liverpool Airport
Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Liverpool John Lennon Airport is an international airport serving the city of Liverpool and the North West of England. Formerly known as Speke Airport, RAF Speke, and Liverpool Airport the airport is located within the City of Liverpool adjacent to the estuary of the River Mersey some southeast...
at Speke
Speke
Speke is an area of Liverpool, Merseyside, England, close to the boundaries of the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. It is south east of the city centre and to the west of the town of Widnes....
. The squadron re-equipped with Spitfire F22's in June 1948. Gloster Meteor
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
F4 and T7 jets were flown between 1950 until 9 July 1951. Because of the need for better facilities, the Squadron moved to RAF Hooton Park
Hooton Park
RAF Hooton Park, on the Wirral Peninsula, Cheshire, was a Royal Air Force station originally built for the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 as a training aerodrome for pilots in World War I. During the early/mid 1930s, it was one of the two airfields handling scheduled services for the Merseyside...
, joining No. 610 Squadron, where it remained until its disbandment on 10 March 1957.
No.5 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-Operation Unit moved to Woodvale on 1 January 1958, and operated target-towing Meteors until 30 September 1971 when the unit was disbanded.
Since 1971, RAF Woodvale has remained a training station and is currently home to:
- Liverpool University Air SquadronUniversity Air SquadronUniversity Air Squadrons are training units of the Royal Air Force which primarily provide basic flying training, force development and adventurous training to undergraduate students at British universities...
- LUAS moved in from RAF Hooton Park 2 July 1951. - Manchester and Salford University Air Squadron (then named Manchester University Air Squadron), MUAS moved in from Manchester's Barton AerodromeBarton AerodromeCity Airport is a general aviation airport in the Barton-upon-Irwell area of Eccles, in the City of Salford, Greater Manchester, England. Formerly known as both Barton Aerodrome and City Airport Manchester...
in March 1953.
- 10 Air Experience Flight10 Air Experience Flight10 Air Experience Flight is one of twelve such units run by the Air Cadet Organisation of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in the 1950s, along with other AEFs, to teach basic flying to members of the Air Training Corps , Combined Cadet Force Section 10 Air Experience Flight (AEF) is one of...
- 10 AEF was formed at RAF Woodvale 25 August 1958. - [631 Volunteer Gliding Squadron] - 631 VGS moved in from RAF SealandRAF SealandRAF Sealand was a former Royal Air Force station in Flintshire, north Wales and operated between 1916 and 2006.Under defence cuts announced in 2004 RAF Sealand was completely closed in April 2006. All remaining RAF units were moved to RAF Leeming...
in March 2006. - Merseyside Police Air Support Group - MPASG.
- Headquarters Merseyside Wing of the Air Training CorpsAir Training CorpsThe Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
. - 611 (Woodvale) Squadron ATC.
- Woodvale Aircraft Owners' Group - WAOG.
In 1971, RAF Woodvale hosted the first annual Woodvale International Rally, a charitable event that originally began as a model aircraft show. It has grown over the years to include car club
Car club
A car club or automotive enthusiast community is a group of people who share a common interest in motor vehicles. Car clubs are typically organized by enthusiasts around type of vehicle , brand , or similar interest...
s with both classic car
Classic car
A classic car is an older car; the exact meaning is variable. The Classic Car Club of America maintains that a car must be between 20 and 40 years old to be a classic, while cars over 45 years fall into the Antique Class.- Classic Car Club of America :...
s, vintage car
Vintage car
A vintage car is commonly defined as a car built between the start of 1919 and the end of 1930 known as the "Vintage era". There is little debate about the start date of the vintage period—the end of World War I is a nicely defined marker there—but the end date is a matter of a little...
s and other vehicle displays. Now in its 38th year Woodvale rally is a large 2 day event held on the first weekend in August.