RAF sections stationed at Squires Gate during World War 2
Squires Gate Aerodrome was taken over by the RAF for the duration of World War Two and became the home of many servicemen. It was used for training, as well as for a base for aircraft tasked with defending places such as Liverpool and Barrow.
RAF Station Blackpool officially opened at Squires Gate on the 23rd of October 1939. It was reputedly the biggest military training centre in the world, and along with RAF Weeton and RAF Kirkham, there were close to one million airmen in the area during the war.
Many local people served there, including sports and theatre stars working in the area.
Squadrons and Flights based there included the following:
- Number 1 Anti-Aircraft co-operation Unit “F” Flight, from the 28th of April 1939;
- Number 42 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School, from the 1st of August 1939 (operated by Reid & Sigrist Limited);
- Bomber Command detachment “A” Flight, from October 1939;
- Number 215 Squadron from November 1939;
- 63 Squadron “C” Flight, flying Battles, from September 1939 to January 1940;
- 75 Squadron “A” Flight, Bomber Command Detachment’s Wellington bombers, from September 1939 until November 1939;
- 215 Squadron, Bomber Command Detachment’s Wellington bombers, from September 1939 until January 1940;
- Number 9 Civilian Air Navigation School (CANS), from the 25th of September 1939 (Operated by Brooklands Aviation Limited) – re-designated Number 9 Air Observer and Navigation School on the 1st of November 1939 and took over Number 8 AO&NS on the 25th of November;
- Number 9 RC RAF Volunteer Reserve station from 1940. Number 10 was also here.
- Number 3 School of General Reconnaissance from the 28th of May 1940 until December 1940;
- Number 12 School of Technical Training (Motor Transport MTM) from the 16th of December 1940, with four Botha aircraft;
- 96 Squadron “A” Flight sent four Hurricanes to Blackpool from Cranage on the 21st of December 1940 for the defence of Liverpool;
- Number 1 School of General Reconnaissance, flying Anson aircraft, from the 11th of July 1940 until September 1940;
- 256 Squadron, flying Boulton Paul Defiants, from the 26th of March 1941;
- Number 1 Anti-Aircraft co-operation Unit “R” Flight, from September 1941;
- School of Air Sea Rescue from the 3rd of May 1943 until February 1945;
- Number 1510 Flight – originally Number 10 Blind Approach Training Flight – from the 15th of August 1944 until the 21st of August 1945;
- Number 10 Signals School;
- Number 2 School of Photography;
- Number 9 and 10 Recruit Training Centres;
- Number 5 School of Technical Training.
Also at Squires Gate from the outbreak of the War was the depot of the Army’s East Lancashire Regiment, which had been moved from Fulwood Barracks for infantry training duties.
As ever in these pages, if anyone has any corrections or additions - with proof - please let me know.
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