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Hooton Park Lane, ELLESMERE PORT, CH65 1AN

Fascinating detail brickwork on the corner of the northern hangar at Hooton Park (see Image for detail). Of interest is the subsequent re-roofing and cladding of the structure and the restoration of the outside administration buildings.

- Machine Gun Post: DoB ID: e28548 Access ladder. Image

- Machine Gun Post: DoB ID: e28548 On the corner of a hangar buttress is a Light Anti-Aircraft machine gun post, part of the airfield defences of RAF Hooton Park. Originally the tower was a WWI era Bomb Target Training Tower that was converted into a LAA post during the Second World War. The different style of brickwork of the open four walls of the LAA post at the top can clearly be seen. Image

A project in progress to restore de Havilland Vampire XD624 as a museum exhibit. Powered by a single Goblin turbojet engine, the de Havilland Vampire was an early jet aircraft that came into service with the RAF in 1946. Image

Part of the project to restore a Vampire jet aircraft as a museum exhibit. Image

This is the actual helmet, goggles and oxygen mask worn by Sgt McGregor when he was killed in Spitfire P9451 on 11 Dec 1940. It was recovered along with the wreckage of the cockpit section of his aircraft from near Kimmer Lough in Northumberland in 2000. Sgt McGregor was from 610 (County of Cheshire) Auxiliary Squadron based at RAF Hooton Park. Image

Closer view of the recovered cockpit section of Spitfire P9451 in which Sgt (Pilot) Hugh Biggans McGregor of 610 (County of Cheshire) Auxiliary Squadron based at RAF Hooton Park was killed. He was involved in a training accident on 11 Dec 1940 whilst flying from RAF Acklington in Northumberland. Image

On 11 Dec 1940 P/O A R Ross of 610 (County of Cheshire) Auxiliary Squadron based at RAF Hooton Park, was engaged in a training flight instructing a new recruit to the squadron at RAF Acklington in Northumberland. Tragically, the pupil Sgt H B McGregor of Glasgow aged 24 flying Spitfire P9451, accidentally flew into Ross's aircraft, slicing the tail off at low level. Ross no doubt due to his greater experience, managed to bail out successfully, but Sgt McGregor was killed. After crashing into flooded bogs, it was not until 1952 that Sgt McGregor's remains were recovered from his crashed Spitfire, whilst the recovery of the aircraft's mostly intact front cockpit and engine section was not undertaken until 48 years later in 2000. The reassembled cockpit still displays dials and instruments that can still be read, and is now on display in the museum. Image

A closer view of the inside of the hangar showing the work in progress on the restoration of the hangar roof. Former WW1 era aircraft hangar of RAF Hooton Park. Image

A work in progress that allows one a view of the unique construction involved in the roof trusses of a typical Belfast hangar. The hangars date from 1917, and the ongoing work to restore them has been undertaken by the Hooton Park Trust. Former WW1 era aircraft hangar of RAF Hooton Park. Image