RAF Ringway
Royal Air Force Station Ringway
 |
|
|---|---|
| Located Near Ringway, Cheshire, England | |
 Royal Air Force Station Ringway
|
|
| Coordinates | 53°21′14″N 2°16′30″W / 53.3539°N 2.2750°WCoordinates: 53°21′14″N 2°16′30″W / 53.3539°N 2.2750°W |
| Type | Airfield |
| Site information | |
| Condition | RAF Station closed; airfield used as civil airport |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1939–1940 |
| In use | 1939–1957 |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | No.1 Parachute Training School RAF |
RAF Ringway was a Royal Air Force station in Ringway, Cheshire, England, near Manchester. It was operational from 1939 until 1957.
Manchester's first municipal airfield was Manchester (Wythenshawe) Aerodrome (open from April 1929), and then Barton Aerodrome (open from January 1930) just west of Eccles. Barton Aerodrome was planned to be the main airport for Manchester, but it became clear by 1934 that its small boggy grass airfield was inadequate for the larger airliners then coming into service including the Douglas DC-2 and DC-3.
A new airport site at Ringway, eight miles south of Manchester city centre, was selected from several alternatives, and this was to become the site of the RAF station by early 1940. Construction of the all-grass airfield began in late 1935, and the first (westerly) portion opened in June 1937 for use by Fairey Aviation. The remaining airfield areas and the terminal building were opened for public use on 25 June 1938. Initially known as Manchester (Ringway) Airport, then Manchester International Airport, from 1986 it has been designated simply Manchester Airport.
Construction of a Royal Air Force station, including two large hangars, workshops, barrack blocks and ancillary accommodation, began in the northeast corner of the airport during spring 1939, with phased completion during early 1940. One of the hangars was intended for use by No. 613 (City of Manchester) Squadron, but this unit had been moved south at the outbreak of war. RAF Ringway was therefore initially used by No. 1 Operational Training Unit, RAF Coastal Command.
From June 1940, Ringway became the wartime base for No.1 Parachute Training School RAF, which was charged with the initial training of all allied paratroopers trained in Europe (60,000) and for development of parachute drops of equipment; also the development of military gliding operations. Men and women agents of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) were also trained to jump.
...
Wikipedia