Barrow/Walney Island Airport

No.10 Air Gunnery School

With the specialisation required in aircrew for the heavy bombers of Bomber Command, air gunners became a separate category. Each bomber required two or three gunners in its crew, so thousands would be required to meet the demands of the growing strategic offensive and to replace losses.

RAF Walney was to play an important role in the training programme, and thus began the busiest period in the life of the Station.^[2]The school opened with 10 Westland Lysanders based on the Station providing towing aircraft for the target drones. The Lysanders were supplemented by 2 Boulton Paul Defiants to provide airborne practice. By December 1941 the number of Defiants on the Station had risen to 17 and amenities on the Station could now provide accommodation for 100 officers, 140 sergeants and 1,200 airmen.^[3]

Whilst at Walney, the volunteer pupils selected for air gunners underwent an intensive course before passing on to the operational training units of RAF Bomber Command.^[4]Two types of courses were run from the Station, wireless operator/air gunner with a total training period of 18 months and air gunner a course which lasted for 6 months.^[5]

The courses involved sighting; aircraft recognition; pyrotechnics; clay-pigeon and 25 yard range shoots; care and maintenance of .303 and .5 Browning machine guns and 20mm cannon; turret hydraulics, manipulation and operation, and the use of cine-camera guns. The training huts were equipped with the various types of turrets then in use, including Boulton Paul Types A and F, and Frazer Nash 121.^[6]

By 1943 the Boulton Paul Defiants were starting to become obsolete, the main problem being that only one student and one instructor could fly at any given time. Consequently, the Defiants were replaced by Avro Ansons, much more suited to the task and by the end of 1943 over 5,000 trainees had passed through RAF Walney.^[7]

Vickers Wellington

Training continued through 1944 and into 1945 by which time the Avro Ansons began to be replaced by the Vickers Wellington which were equipped with two turrets and camera guns thereby offering more efficient training. In addition Hurricanes and Spitfires were introduced to provide more realistic targets.^[8]During the latter part of 1945 the RAF Mountain Rescue Unit arrived at Walney from RAF Cark.^[9]

In 1946 No.10 Air Gunnery School relocated to RAF Mona and by the end of the year all based flying at RAF Walney had ceased.^[10]The Air Training Corp No.188 Gliding School from RAF Cark arrived at Walney and continued to use the airfield until 1955 when RAF Wlaney closed.^[11]

Post War

The airfield was sold on in 1959 to Vickers, the company that owned Barrow shipyard. Commercial flights operated from the airport in the late 20th century but ceased in 1992.

The No. 9r was built at the Walney Airport site

Airship construction

During the early 20th century a site 1 mile south west of Barrow/Walney Island Airport was used for one of the UK's most important airship production facilities. For a brief period, the industry was equally as vital for the local economy as Barrow's booming ship building industry. Between 1910 and 1920, such airships as No. 9r, R80, and the SS class blimp were constructed by Vickers, Sons and Maxim for the British Royal Navy at Walney - having relocated from alongside Cavendish Dock in Barrow.

Commercial era

Commercial flights used the airport during the 1980s and 1990s. Air Ecosse flew to Edinburgh, Carlisle and Liverpool from 1982 until 1983 using Twin Otter aircraft. Air Furness commenced scheduled passenger flights from the airport in 1984, flying predominantly to Manchester. The flights were designed to connect with international services from Manchester and were operated up to four times daily using Islander aircraft. Air Furness ceased operations in 1988. Despite a final attempt to run scheduled services from the airport in 1991-1992 by Telair, the airport is currently used only for private flights.

Expansion plans

In 2004 a study into the airport revealed that a £1 million upgrade would attract thousands of business passengers a year flying to London and Europe. The study found that the business demand from South Cumbria would be equal to 4,500 journeys in a year, reaching 7,900 by 2020. These are still only plans to convert Barrow/Walney Island Airport into an international airport, but already the number of aircraft using the airfield has increased with the completion of an upgrade programme. The work includes Instrument Landing System (ILS) installation for runway 35, resurfacing of runway 17/35, re-lighting of runway 17/35, security fencing around the entire airfield and other improvements such as signage.

In 2005, an airshow was held at the site. Following its success a second was planned for 2007 but was later cancelled.

In 2016 BAE Systems submitted plans to Barrow Borough Council to redevelop and expand parts of the airport by constructing a new terminal and air traffic control tower, hangar, garage for support vehicles including a fire engine, a new car park and upgraded roadway and an aircraft apron. In the same year DONG Energy proposed the construction of a heliport, additional hangar and associated office buildings.