During the second world war, and for a time afterwards, Wilmslow was home to a large RAF camp - RAF Wilmslow - known as No. 4 School of Recruit Training. It was a large camp with a variety of buildings, air raid shelters and two parade grounds. The camp closed in 1962 and since the 1980's the site has been gradually redeveloped as housing - now known as the Summerfields.
Work on the camp commenced at the outbreak of war and its role was the reception, kitting-out, basic training and accommodation of 4,000 recruits. A typical recruit arrived at the camp one week into his induction and spent 8 weeks there before being posted elsewhere. Many of the recruits based at RAF Wilmslow were female; ie WAAFs (Women's Auxiliary Air Force - renamed WRAFs in 1949). The camp had a shooting range, a cinema - The Astra - and a large SSQ - Squadron Sick Quarters ie a military hospital.
It was not an airfield although there was a Supermarine Spitfire on show as a gate guardian. It was a Spitfire Mk Vb; serial 5377M aka EP120.
This Spitfire flew 79 operational sorties with 402 Squadron, accounting for the destruction of six enemy aircraft (four Bf109s and two Fw190s). She appeared in the film "The Battle of Britain" as a static machine. She was credited with 7.5 kills during her war career, and these are marked on the side of her cockpit. In 1993-5 she was brought back into flying condition and flew again for the first time in 50 years on 12th September 1995; she had a starring role in the 2001 film "Pearl Harbour". EP120 is now based with "The Fighter Collection" at Duxford and has the markings AE-A.
Photo: RAF Wilmslow 1938 – 1962
Jon Kelly
Wilmslow Historical Society
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Thank you for the interesting article on RAF Summerfields.
As residents for a number of years, do you know where we can access more images and plans?
I'm pretty certain that many other residents would love to see how the old RAF campsite 'maps over' to Summerfields, The Villas and Summerfields Village as they currently exist.
Thank you.
I remember as a child in the late 70's / early 80's hunting for spent bullets and cartridges on the section close to the railway line, as well as playing around the old pond (we were told it was a water source for fire fighter training - would you know if that was correct?) while the first phase of Summerfields was being completed. Many of the local kids spent many hours, tracing the old road ways, and exploring our very own little 'war zone'. As the 75th anniversary of VE day approaches, I would also love to see how the original site plans looked, and how they link into today's housing areas.
Regards
Google Earth may also have some content visible through its 'time-line' feature.
I have a picture of the camp, taken from the air.
Regards Jon Kelly.
My nanna was Evelyn winters. I wonder if theres still anyone around that remembers them
I did my first eight weeks square bashing as a national serviceman at RAF Wilmslow in April/May 1956.
I was posted back sometime after and living in Manchester I was able to 'live at home' so I regularly could be seen thumbing a lift opposite the then Bluebell Pub. There were two entrances one at the Wilmslow and the other on Dean Row Rd.
Before I retired I had worked as a viewing rep for a well known Wilmslow Estate Agent which entailed viewing many properties on the Summerfields Development. I can remember remarking to one homeowner that his property was approximately on the site of the gas chamber that was used in a training exercise don't think he was impressed.
The Spitfire was replaced by a De Havilland Vampire a few years prior to the camp closure.