RAF Woodvale
RAF Woodvale 
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| Near Woodvale, Merseyside in England | |||||||||
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 EGOW
Shown within Merseyside
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| Coordinates | 53°34′54″N 003°03′20″W / 53.58167°N 3.05556°WCoordinates: 53°34′54″N 003°03′20″W / 53.58167°N 3.05556°W | ||||||||
| Type | Royal Air Force station | ||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1941 | ||||||||
| In use | 1941-Present | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Identifiers | ICAO: EGOW | ||||||||
| Elevation | 11 metres (36 ft) AMSL | ||||||||
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Royal Air Force Woodvale or RAF Woodvale (ICAO: EGOW) is a Royal Air Force Station located 4 mi (6.4 km) next to the town of Formby in an area called Woodvale- just South of Southport, Merseyside. Although constructed as an all-weather night fighter airfield for the defence of Liverpool, it did not open until 7 December 1941 which was just after the Liverpool Blitz, which had peaked in May.
During the Second World War 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 before leaving on 1 April 1942. 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 F14s of No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, moved here from Liverpool Airport at Speke. The squadron re-equipped with Spitfire F22s in February 1949. Gloster Meteor F.4 and F.8 jets were flown between May 1951 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.The Temperature and Humidity Flight, operating Spitfires and Mosquitos, was based there from 1953 to 1958.
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