HMS Gosling / RAF Croft
‹ Return to Aviation History
RAF Croft / HMS Gosling
H.M.S. Gosling was a Fleet Air Arm Training Establishment during WWII. Seems this base was initially a ‘stone frigate’ but was later taken on by the RAF and used by USAF airmen at Burtonwood. This base was demolished in 2013. Entrance was on Lady Lane, Croft Near Warrington, Cheshire. Photos taken during a visit in 2011. Not to be confused with RAF Croft in North Yorkshire.
Demolition of Croft
I spent 4 very happy years in Croft twixt the ages of 10 till 14. My friends and I used to bike along a track by the side of the Noggin Inn to a WW2 building. Inside it was full of military vehicles.
I lived on Chadwick Avenue which was on the Eaves Brow estate. When I was there the field next to our house had an ‘X’ shaped structure which I think was part of a firing range. Google Earth shows that it and 2 wooden sheds have gone.
I remember an old prefab on Lady Lane going up in smoke. It lay to the right of the track leading to the huts.
Unfortunately I know very little of the history of this area. Was my home built on part of RAF Croft? If not where was it?
We also used to get chased around an old base out behind the UKAEA place at Risley. Was this Gosling?
If anyone can help, please get in touch.
Hi, i am also looking for information on what my grandad used to call the ‘Range’ people nowadays refer to it as the battlefields and it is opposite the christ church on Lady lane. My great great grandad bought this from the military in or around the 50’s but we have no paperwork to back this up. any info or memories would be welcome.
I have a photo which may help you. From a book called ‘Croft The History of a Village’. If you email me I will send it to you.
Hi Cheyvonne, thank you for your comment. If you could email me that’d be great, thank you.
Ian
I have only just seen this reply! Three years later – I have a lot more info if you still need it! x
Ha ha! It happens a lot. Yes anything you can add would be much appreciated, Thank you
Ian
Link to Cheyvonne’s page about RNAS Croft
https://www.crofthistory.org/ww2.html
Please can you send me 4he details for the book. Inwould live it for a lady I know who was based there jn 1944
Dear Readers ,
I used to go onto the American base in Ladies Lane Croft also Burtonwood base at Winwick . Both my sister were married to American airmen based at Burtonwood . The base in Ladies Lane Croft was an over spill from Burtonwood housing families and the soldiers . Entering the base from Ladies Lane Croft was a centuries hut with a lift up barrier
to allow vehicles onto the base after checks. The dome shaped building was were the families held dances . There was no airstrip at Croft. Military planes flew into Burtonwood from America bringing supplies backwards and forwards . These bases were operational for a few years after the war, then closed in the late Sixties a large part of the troops sent to Germany my American brothers in laws along with my sisters went back to America . Both my brothers in law have died along with one of my sisters , my other sister lives in Burbank California she his in her late 80s . I am 70 years of age i was 10 years of age when i went with my sisters to the bases.
Thank you for adding these notes Peter.
Here is another photo from inside Croft – the stage in the building where the dances were held.
Omg, I cannot believe this, as a school girl living in culcheth we used to go to this site and play as we travelled their from culcheth on our bikes, taking our sandwiches for the day. Lovely memories 😀
My Family lived in Orford House Croft from 1942-44.My Father Commander CV Stevens was commander of HMS Gosling Which adjoined Orford House.I was 5 yrs old so remember it quite well.My younger brother & I have very happy memories of our time there.I see the farm yard & barn are now converted.In those days we were very much in the countryside!
Hi is it still there would like to go see it ??
Just showing all the info on this to a client I go to on home care… she was based there ar HMS Gosling 1 in 1944. She is loving all the comments and info.
That’s great, thanks Sarah. Please give her my best wishes!
Ian