The Remains Of RAF Speke - A lost Liverpool Relic - WW2 Pillboxes,WW2 Firing Butt,Bullet Holes
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
- Built in part of the grounds of Speke Hall, Speke Airport, as the airport was originally known, started scheduled flights in 1930
During World War II, the old Speke airport was taken over by the Royal Air Force and known as RAF Speke.
Rootes built many bombers in a shadow factory here, including Bristol Blenheims and 1,070 Handley Page Halifaxes. Lockheed Aircraft Corporation assembled many types including Hudsons and Mustangs, shipped from the United States to Liverpool Docks.The airport was also home to the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit.
In 1946,the airport reverted back to civilian use and By the early 1970s it was deemed that it would soon be unsuitable for the increased demands of larger airliners and it was closed when the 'new' John Lennon airport was built.
The original airport terminal buildings are now preserved as a Grade II listed art deco hotel,together with a small collection of older aircraft.
The original hangers are now in commercial use.
The old runway leading to JLA Airport was visible until the most of the land was used for large industrial units.
good to see this after 11 years of last visiting here back in 2010
#liverpool #rafspeke #WW2 #liverpoolblitz
shot on an osmo pocket by DJI
edited in davinci resolve 16 studio edition
edited on an acer nitro 5 gaming laptop
I used to be in the Air Training Corps (90 Squadron) in the 60’s. The original building was a long white building, which used to be the RAF armoury. It was off Banks Lane, possibly Blackbourne Street. There was a gatehouse at the entrance that used to house a government department - you went there to get your NI number.
There was a detachment of fighters there during the war, probably Hurricanes. They also trained Hurricane pilots to fly off CAMM ships (catapult armed merchant marine) and there was a catapult there to practice on (long gone when I was a lad).
The 8 or 12 Browning .303 machine guns on each aircraft were synchronised so that all the rounds concentrated at one point- usually 200 feet. Rookie pilots had a wider pattern set on their aircraft to make sure they actually hit it. At 200 feet, you could see the whites of the enemy gunners eyes- and he could see yours!
Gun synchronisation was 250 yards or longer, much longer, never 200 feet. Skilled pilots could reduce that considerably - 150 yards - but it wasn't unknown for aircraft to be grounded which might mean pilots using a plane with unfamiliar synchronisation.
There were mechanical limitations in the wings of all types.
I grew up in Speke in the early 70s.
At the end of Dungeon Lane there is another pill box accessed by a metal ladder.
I’ve grown up on the old airport and after the airport closed in 1987 we used to go over to the gun calibration shed and climb up into the sand behind the iron sheet I’d say there’s a 4 foot gap between the sheet u touched and the wall behind it and it’s filled with sand and we use to find 1000’s of slugs “used bullets” and bits of wood probably wa the targets were made from...my dad told me each pilot like his guns calibrated different so that’s we’re the guns were set up before the planes were sent to what ever base they were to be stationed at...there was also another pill box in the middle of the airport it was difficult to get to because it was surrounded by the runways it was called V6 it was more towards the river than the others from what i can remember it was solid concrete no bricks...enjoy your videos keep them coming 👌🏼
reminds me of my youth, now an OAP living in Essex
Thank you I love exploring these places being local.
Glad you liked it gary well worth a look if you are local
Cheers for watching
THE WEIRD LOOKING STRUCTURE IS A TRANSFORMER BLOCK RAF , THE PILL BOX BY THE COMPOUND IS NOT ITS ORIGINAL SITE , IT WAS MOVED FOUR YEARS AGO BY THE CONTACTORS HAD A PRESERVATION ORDER ON IT , AND RESITED .THE LAST BUILDING IS AN RAF SLEEPING BLOCK
Cheers bob i thought that pillbox had been moved i seem to remember it being more in the middle of that field
Thanks for the info
the pill box on the open field that was, was flooded every time I seen it, will have to go and look for it in its new location, by gefco, the landowners are burying everything with trees, speke hall next door just as rapacious , the river will be blocked next up to speke
Yeh i noticed they had planted shit loads of trees down there mad like
My dad had a job on the heavy gang at speak Airport after the war shuvin and pulling mustangs so the yanks could assemble and disassemble the aircraft he told me there was a pilot who was an Indian called red he could be Eric's dad as Eric looks like a fella who should be called two dogs shagin. Great vid and another hidden gem.
Amiga! Love it! 🤩
loving the kempston joysticks
The best ones
Great content mate enjoyed
Cheers glad you liked it
Just enjoyed watching your video. I recall an other gun emplacement on site of old airport, along Oglet shore. Would not know if it is still there as lot of 0f land has been change in recent years
Fantastic....thanks for posting this vid.....going to go and take a look when things are back to Normal....I know where it is.
Cheers glad you liked it deffo worth a look this place quite a fee more underground things but they have been filled in
I thought I knew everything about Liverpool, now, after watching your videos, I realise I know nothing lol, keep up the good work lads! x
Cheers simon this place is a little gem thanks for watching we have loads more to come
Excellent mate, enjoyed that👍
Thanks glad you like it
I would never have known that ,you were there 10 years ago
mad that its all still intact 10 years on
The pillbox i used to play in as a kid in clarks Gardens Allerton , wonder if it still there
Still there im up that way tomorrow
There is or was a pill box on wigg island.it was in the bit you weren't allowed to go in !
Very interesting didnt know about that cheers
Check out the Methodist church wall on banks toad in garston. That is riddled with bullet holes from german aircraft aiming for the gas works
Ooo cheers mate will do sounds interesting
@@g2emedia1977 My dad lived next door to the methodist church during the war 2 priory st he told me it is shrapnel from a bomb you can also see blast marks on the old gasworks wall by the bus stop...
Was it Mick you met ? He loves Speke hall
Who ever owns the land should clear out the buildings, let groups come and see them as they are second world war historical buildings.
Have you ever been in the bunkers under Wavertree Park mate, worth a look.
Should hopefully be doing that this week from what ive seen they are well worth a look
@@g2emedia1977 they definitely are there's some interesting sketches on the walls.
Yeh they do look bloody cool hopefully i can get in
@@g2emedia1977 I know exactly we're you can get in mate but don't fancy posting it on here
No worries mate i think i know where it is cheers mate
Blue city, tagmen, trees gone riot, crikey, nowt like it once was.
how do i get there from the old airport ?
Best way is head for speke hall its just to the right before speke hall
Is it safe to investigate here at night
get down there and find out i dont see why not 👍
There are bullet holes on the canal bridge in Vauxhall sure its Boundary st, you can see them as you drive over the bridge but if you walk under you can see a whole trail of them.
Wouldve been from a german fighter strafing supply barges on the canal.
Mad when you think how much our City came under attack and how vital it was to the war effort.
Pretty sure German fighters didn’t have the range to reach us
Nice I made one here 8 years ago. Is the ROC listening post still there ?
Cheers glad you liked it where about was that listening post located
@@g2emedia1977 you'd have to look at my video it's changed a lot now
Ahh cool will do cheers
Your pic/photo + ace, before the paint can men called round. Current curse on bunkers etc, both sides of The Channel.
Have you had a metal detector around there?
I havent but a mate of mine is heading down that way soon with his
@@g2emedia1977 Would be cool to find old bullets.
Would be indeed i imagine a lot was found when excavating for the factories
@@g2emedia1977 I enjoy your videos.
@@liverbird4444 thanks a lot i have lots of others planned over the next few weeks
Calibrate the guns.
Yeh can never say that properly believe me I've tried lol