BRD site is basically a factory for aircraft maintenance and repair. The depot workshops included facilities for the modification and repair of air frames, overhauling and testing of engines, variable pitch props and woodworking and metal work. Air frames were delivered on board ship across the Atlantic and once they were at BRD site, they were modified and assembled on site.

They were then towed by tractor to the airfield for flight testing. Due to the difficulty of getting spare parts from the US, BRD had its own production facilities to manufacture anything that may be required. Mary Ann site was part of BRD site.

Large 4 engined bombers were repaired there because they could not enter BRD site due to their sheer size, although the engines and systems were maintained at BRD site. Smaller aircraft, such as P-38, P-51 and P-47 were assembled on BRD site. Burtonwood Repair Depot (known as BRD site) Burtonwood Repair Depot (known as BRD site) was a factory site built to the South East of the airfield and was erected in 1939 & then occupied in 1940 under the control of the Air Ministry (Not the RAF) The site was later taken over by the Ministry of Aircraft production (MAP) and in 1942 was transferred to the USAAF.

The main entrance to BRD site was gate 9 sited at the South End of Burtonwood Road opposite site 8. The headquarter buildings was sited just inside the main gate (9). 1 Type ‘A’ aircraft hangar was constructed on BRD site. This type of hangar was designed in 1924.

The hangar featured a steel frame with longitudinal ridge and valley trusses for the roof with reinforced concrete and brick infillings for the walls. The span was 122 feet and the length was 249 feet. The hangar and associated workshops covered 722,000 square feet.

Along the rear of BRD site were over 30 aircraft engine test rigs running 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The sound of these engines could be heard up to 2 miles away. The site also had its own Railway Sidings, Locomotive shed & a short branch line connecting into the main Liverpool to Manchester Railway Line.

Fairey Aviation Company was the parent Company to BRD site. On September 1940 Curtiss Mohawks arrived there in early 1941 & also at this time technicians from Brewster, Curtiss & Douglas Aircraft Companies arrived there. 4 Subsidiary firms operated on BRD Ltd under Technical guidance being Rovers Radials, Rollinson Radials, Sunbeam Liquid Cooled & British Overseas Airways Corporation. The site was officially handed complete control to the USAAF on the 21st of October 1943.

The Air Ministry built 10 equipment type depot stores buildings on BRD site for the use of warehouses and engineering workshops. They were built in parallel rows 5 to each row. Each building having 10 smaller type buildings attached to them, 5 on each side coupled together forming continuous rows of workshops. 10 equipment-type Depot buildings were built at BRD Site.

They formed 2 parallel rows two sets of 4 coupled together with 2 singles at one end forming continuous rows of workshops and warehouses. They were constructed to air ministry drawing number. 10648/381 of The 10 Equipment Buildings at BRD Site

Maryland Mark I, AR738, on the ground at the Burtonwood Repair Depot, Lancashire, following assembly. AR738 was one of fifty Marylands from a French Government contract which was acquired by the British Purchasing Commission in the United States following the surrender of France and designated the Maryland Mark I. Many of these aircraft were employed on strategic reconnaissance in Malta and the Middle East but, although AR738 was flown to No. 107 Maintenance Unit at Kasfareet, Egypt, there is no record of its operational use in the theatre.

It later crashed on landing at El Firdan, Egypt, in November 1942. Photographer unknown Photograph credit to the IWM for non-commercial use. Maryland Mark I AR703

Havoc Mark I (Turbinlite), AW400, on the ground at Burtonwood Repair Depot, Lancashire. This aircraft served with: Nos. 1422 and 1454 (Turbinlite) Flights and with 1459 (Turbinlite) Flight/No. 538 Squadron RAF, before transfer to the USAAF in April 1943. The Photo was taken by an official RAF photographer.

Vigilant, HL429, at No. 37 Maintenance Unit, Burtonwood, Lancashire, following assembly by the Aircraft Storage Unit. HL429 was tested by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment before embarking on a long period of service with: No. 651 (AOP) Squadron RAF No. 43 Operational Training Unit No. 83 Group Communications Flight The 2nd Tactical Air Force Communications Squadron and finally with the BAFO Communications Wing in Germany before being struck off charge in March 1946. The photo was taken by an official RAF photographer.

Mohawk Mark IV, BJ442, on the ground at Burtonwood, Lancashire, where it was employed in defense of the airfield following its assembly there, November 1940. This aircraft was one of a number of Hawk 75A-4s originally ordered for the French Air Force, which was taken over by the RAF following the collapse of France. In 1942, BJ442 was delivered to India for service with No. 155 Squadron RAF.

The photo was taken by an official RAF photographer. Photograph credit to the IWM.for non-commercial use Boston Mark III (Intruder), W8325

Boston Mark III (Intruder), W8292, at the Burtonwood Repair Depot, Lancashire, following conversion from a standard Boston Mark III. This aircraft served with No. 23 Squadron RAF and with No. 418 Squadron RCAF before its destruction during an air test in January 1943. The photo was taken by the Ministry of Aircraft Production [MAP] Photograph credit to the IWM for non-commercial use.

BRD Site – Additional Views

More photographs documenting the BRD (Base Reconstruction Depot) Site at Burtonwood, showing the extensive repair and overhaul facilities that were critical to keeping Allied aircraft operational throughout the war.