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RAF Kirkham
RAF Kirkham was located south west of Kirkham beside the A583, it opened in 1940 as a technical trades training base. In November 1941 it became the main armament training centre for the RAF and during the Second World War some 72,000 RAF, WAAF and Allied personnel undertook courses at Kirkham. Today the site occupied by a prison.
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Those known to have served at RAF Kirkham during the Second World War 1939-1945. The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
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Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our
Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. |
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Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a
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Want to know more about RAF Kirkham? There are:0 items tagged RAF Kirkham available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Stanishlaw lshinsky In WW2 I was a young woman living with my auntie, uncle and cousins in Wigan, Lancashire, England. I met and started dating a Polish pilot named Stanishlaw Lshinsky he was based at Kirkham nr Blackpool. We became very close and were both devastated when my uncle insisted I end the relationship. Stan was sent to RAF Culdrose and I never saw him again. I later married and had 2 children.My husband passed away a number of years ago and although I was happily married for over 40 years I never forgot Stan. I would love to know what became of him whether he went back to Poland or maybe he met someone and settled in England. If anyone knows anything I would love to hear from you.
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Corporal Charles Albert Allard I have just discovered a letter written from my mother to my father, Charles Allard in September 1940. He was apparently stationed in Blackpool while my mother remained in London. The letter describes her homelife during the Blitz and gives an amazing insight into the hazards of daily life at the time. My mother died some time ago and was predeceased by my father. Until the discovery of this letter, I had not known where he had been stationed and would love to know how to access his Service records. I have photos of my father in uniform and indeed he was wearing this when he married my mother in 1941.
On the back of the envelope, another name is jotted down AC2 Awcott, E.F. 1377172 - I wonder who this was? I would be so grateful to be given any relevant information.
This letter was found only two weeks ago,tucked down in a sofa which I am having reupholstered. The upholsterer kindly sent me the letter as soon as he discovered it. I would love to hear from anyone who might have known my father or anything about him.
Editors Note: Blackpool was the main initial training base for new entrants into the RAF at that time.
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LAC David Johnson 84 Squadron Early February 1941 my Dad, David Johnson then aged 28 was working at Salford Electrical Instruments, then a Munitions factory on Silk St, Salford. He was in a reserved occupation and was not required to join the services. When a minor event changed this.
Dad and a couple of workmates called at the pub in their lunch break unfortunately they arrived back at work a little late.
There was a no nonsense approach to life those days, and Dad and his workmates were sacked. Mam was six months pregnant with their first child, Dad knew his priority was a wage coming in so he immediately went to the recruiting office and joined the RAF.
Going to war and fighting the enemy would have been nothing in comparison to telling my mother what had occurred. They had been married for three years and were renting a three bed. terraced hovel on West St, Lower Broughton. Mam at times could be terrifying, and no doubt verbally and possibly physically would have wiped the floor with Dad. Their parting would not have been amicable.
The next day Dad was at Recruit centre RAF Padgate, then after that onto 4 wing 5 recruit Centre West Kirby. Dad was based at Cranwell College on a training course in May when my older sister was born, the day after her birth Dad was granted five days leave. (And apart from one day in September of that year, that was the last Mam saw of him until June 1945).
In April 1942 he was posted to Care and Maintenance party based at Santa Cruz, Station Headquarters, India. After this, 84 Squadron, 7084 Servicing Echelon.
He came home to England in May 1945 and was based for a short time at 1 Air crew officers school, RAF Hereford. He had an exemplary service record and a good conduct badge A1st. February 1946 Dad was demobbed from 101 Personnel Dispersal Centre RAF Kirkham.
It was hard for Mam without Dad whilst he was in India, and sadly, she never really forgave him for joining up. As a child I remember the dreadful traumatic scenes in the house my sister and I witnessed, we with our arms around Dad, all three of us sobbing uncontrollably as Mam verbally attacked him, and even threatened him with the poker. She was a strong woman not afraid of anyone either man or woman.
Dad was a wonderful father to us, kind, thoughtful, caring, he loved us very much. Over the years Mam softened towards Dad, she realized she could not have had a better husband.
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Flt.Sgt. Roland Kershaw Roland Kershaw was my Grandfather. He served at RAF Kirkham from 1944 until just after the end of the War. He was a member of the ground crew, an electrician.
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LAC. Pearson Watson Smith No. 56 Operational Training Unit My father, Pearson Smith (born 1920), was from Sunniside, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and enlisted in the RAF on 21st of November 1940 at Padgate. He initially mustered as an ACH/W.Op., then became an ACH/GD, and finally a Maint/Asst. He was demobbed on 15th of July 46 at RAF Cardington, Bedfordshire, having reached the rank of LAC.
He went to 10 Signal Recruit Centre, Blackpool, in Feb 41, then moved to No. 3 Signals School (RAF Compton Bassett, Jun 41), 51 OTU (RAF Cranfield, Aug 41), 55 OTU (Oct 41 and Mar 42, RAF Usworth and RAF Great Orton), 16 RC(A) (May 42), hospital at RAF Kirkham (Jul - Aug 43), 56 OTU (RAF Brunton, Jan 45) and No. 95 Maintenance Unit (RAF Lords Bridge, Cambridge, Sep 45) before demobbing at RAF Cardington (102 PDC 'A') on 25/5/46.
He also did several 'Alt Backers Up' courses, though it's not clear from his service record what these were. However, an article on the BBC website WW2 People's War may shed some light on this as the correspondent says ‘The Backers Up’ course consisted mostly of football, arms drill, firing on the rifle range, route marches and physical training.
The only other possibility is that, as the term 'Backers Up' was used by the Pathfinder Force to describe crews whose job was to add coloured markers to target flares to maintain the aiming point during a raid, is that he may have started as a maintenance assistant on radios but later changed to explosive ordnance, hence how he came to be at 95 MU. I think this unlikely as he joined 95 MU after the war ended and prior to that had been at OTUs, none of which had aircraft used by the Pathfinder Force.
I never met my father, as my parents separated when I was a child and he died in 1992. I would be interested in any stories or information about the places he served, especially at the time he was there, and also about the 'Alt Backers Up' courses mentioned on his Service record, as well as information about 16 RC.
Notes:
- RAF Compton Bassett was a training establishment for ground trade radio operators and radio mechanics.
- 51 OTU at RAF Cranfield (Bedfordshire) in 1941 operated the Beaufort, Mosquito, Wellington, and Hurricane.
- 55 OTU at RAF Usworth (Co. Durham) in 1941 operated the Hurricane X.
- 16 RC (A) - no information, but possibly 16 Radio Course, location unknown; the 'A' denotes attachment to 55 OTU as parent unit.
- 55 OTU at RAF Great Orton (Cumberland) in 1942 operated the Hurricane, Typhoon and Master.
- RAF Kirkham (Lancashire) was the main armament training centre for the RAF from Nov 1941 and had a military hospital, probably the closest one to RAF Great Orton where Pearson was based at the time.
- 56 OTU at RAF Brunton (Northumberland) in 1945 operated the Typhoon 1b and Tempest.
- RAF Lords Bridge in 1945 was an Air Ammunition Park and Forward Filling Station for mustard gas munitions.
- RAF Cardington (Bedfordshire) in 1946 was a Personnel Despatch Centre (for demobilisation). The 'A' denotes 'A Class' demobilisation category.
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James Robinson James Robinson served at Kirkham RAF Camp.
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