Veterans
mobilise to save historic hangars
Hooton Park's new role assured as an aviation museum
A group of ex-RAF veterans have won their battle to save an important
part of the North West's aviation heritage.
Former members of the City of Chester 610 Squadron mobilised to
protect three historic aircraft hangars from being demolished at
the former Hooton aerodrome, near Ellesmere Port.
The land and the massive hangars, overlooking the Mersey Estuary,
are owned by the motor giants Vauxhall who wanted them removed to
create major vehicle storage space alongside their Ellesmere Port
plant.
However, with typical fighting spirit, the 610 veterans bombarded
the local planning authority with objections, including a 6000-name
petition against the proposal. Now the Vauxhall Motor Company has
relented and will soon be handing over the hangars so that a North
West Aviation Heritage Museum can be created.
The hangars were built in 1917 and are believed to be the only ones
of their type to be granted Listing Building status. The 610 veterans
and the Hooton Park Trust will now need to gather together several
million pounds to restore the buildings, hopefully in time for a
planned opening of the 'working, hands-on' museum in 2003...the
year which marks the centenary of the first flight by the Wright
brothers.
In the 1930s, and years before Speke Airport, Hooton Park served
as Liverpool's official airport. During the war, as a base for the
City of Chester 610 Squadron, the aerodrome played a vital role
in the defence of Merseyside. Later it was a training station for
the RAF.
" Hooton Park and the hangars are immensely important in terms
of our aviation heritage," said a spokesman for the 610 Association
which includes members from as far away as Canada, USA and Australia.
"A museum here will be a magnet for enthusiasts and will sit
comfortably with the region's other major attractions. We certainly
do not envisage an aviation junkyard. We would be restoring and
maintaining historic aircraft and, hopefully, there will be work
experience opportunities and displays of an enormous collection
of aviation memorabilia and nostalgia, especially from the Second
World War.
"The
collection has recently been boosted by a collection of items, including
RAF uniforms, guns and badges, previously housed at RAF Sealand,
Chester.
Anyone with other aviation artifacts and memorabilia, or even bits
of old aeroplanes, is asked to contact 610 Association's Pete Storrar,
telephone 01244 350977.
The 610 County of Chester Fighter Squadron was formed at Hooton
Park in February 1936 and took part in most of the major operations
between 1939 and 1945 - escort, reconnaissance, anti-fly bomber
operations and general defence. In 1936 it was designated a light
Day Bomber Squadron, equipped with Hawker Harts, but at the outbreak
of war, under the command of Squadron Leader I.R.Parker, 610 switched
to Spitfires and moved to war stations at RAF Wittering, in Lincolnshire.
The German invasion of the Low Countries then led to a hasty move
to Biggin Hill, for the evacuation from Dunkirk. Throughout 1940
the squadron was engaged in bitter fighting over the English Channel
and during these dark days destroyed over 50 enemy aircraft.
One pilot, Sgt. Hamlyn, chalked a personal score in a single day
by downing five German aircraft. In 1941 the squadron was engaged
in the defence of London during the Blitz and then on convoy patrol
out of Norfolk. During the invasion it provided a vital support
role until 1944 when it moved to the Continent, under the command
of Wing Cdr. 'Johnnie' Johnson, triple DSO, double DFC.
After the war, 610 temporarily disbanded but was reformed as a training
unit back at Hooton Park in 1946. Finally it was disbanded in 1957.
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