Nutts Corner
NUTTS CORNER: Military aerodrome and civil airport
(Until 1963 the main BELFAST airport and known as BELFAST AIRPORT)
Military users: WW2: RAF Coastal Command 15 Group
120 Sqdn (Consolidated B-24 Liberators)
220 Sqdn (Boeing B-17 Fortress’)
Transport Command 44 Group
1332 HCU [Heavy Conversion Unit] (Consolidated B-24 Liberators, Short Stirlings & Avro Yorks)
Note: Picture from the John Stroud Collection
British airlines: BEA, BKS & Silver City
Charter/air taxi: Air Transport Charter, British American Air Services
Flying club/school: 1959 ‘snapshot’. Belfast Airport Flying Group
Manufacturing: WW2: Short & Harland
Location: 2nm ESE of Crumlin, 3nm SE of Aldergrove
Period of operation: 1941 to 1963 (Civil airport from 1946)
Note: Copyright unknown?
Runways: WW2: 10/28 1829x46 hard 04/22 1463x46 hard
15/33 1097x46 hard
In 1959 it appears the WW2 runways 10/28 and 04/22 were of the same dimensions but runway 15/33 was not in use
A MIKE CHARLTON GALLERY
These eight pictures from postcards were very kindly sent by Mike Charlton who has an amazing collection. See, www.aviationpostcard.co.uk
I was tempted to name this 'gallery' as BEA Daks galore.
First picture: The 'star turn' here G-AGIP, a Douglas C-47 Dakota 3, was first registered to BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) at WHITCHURCH on the 20th December 1943 - during WW2 - until the 17th August 1946 when it transferred to BEA (British European Airways Corporation) with which it served until the 9th May 1961. It then operated with Cambrian Airways from the 10th May 1961 until the 12th August 1963, when it was sold to Morocco.
Third picture: A BEA Dakota, and beyond a BEA Vickers Viking.
Seventh picture: I have to say I had not expected this at NUTTS CORNER. And this is why pictures are so valuable in recording history. Here is proof that NUTTS CORNER once had a generous veiwing area for spectators, in this case with two BEA Douglas C-47 Dakotas on the apron.
Eighth picture: Here again a Douglas C-47 Dakota with a long and interesting history. G-AGJZ was first registered with Railway Air Services, CROYDON, from the 6th February 1946 until the 1st January 1947. It then went to BEA (British European Airways Corporation) from the 18th March 1947 until the 26th March 1954.
It then went to Eagle Aircraft Sevice for two months; 29th March 1954 to the 3rd May 1954 before being acquired by Airwork from the 14th May 1954 until the 8th March 1957. It then went to Skyways from the 8th April 1957 until the 27th May 1959, when it was registered to Skyways Coach Air at ASHFORD from the 27th May 1959 until the 1st September 1970. It was then registered to Air Freight at LYDD until the 8th June 1977, then being sold to Ethiopia.
NOTES: It appears that NUTTS CORNER was originally intended for Coastal Command but eventually became mainly a Ferry Terminal for Transport Command. As said elsewhere it was pretty rare that any major RAF airfield remained a ‘single tenancy’ and/or ‘single purpose’ site so all I have tried to do in most cases is reflect the main duties.
WW2
120 Sqdn in 1942 were the first in RAF Coastal Command to start operating the Consolidated B.24 Liberator. This was highly significant as the range of the Liberator, (along with the Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina flying boat), meant that German submarines (U-boats) preying on the merchant convoys and operating in the ‘yawning gap’ or ‘almighty chasm’ in the middle of north Atlantic were no longer free of attack from the air. Both of these types had been developed by Consolidated in California for long range operations over the Pacific Ocean. And, without too much doubt, only became available to the British after the USA had decided to join the war against Germany in December 1941.
Also based here in early 1942 were 220 Squadron equipped with the Boeing B-17 Fortress which of course was a type which will always be associated in the UK with the USAAF bombing campaign in Europe and especially of Germany. As far as I am aware 220 Squadron were the only Coastal Command squadron operating the Fortress in early 1942. 59 Squadron flew the type, later on from THORNEY ISLAND (HAMPSHIRE), but were there any other Coastal Command squadrons also operating the type later on?
A CIVILIAN EXISTENCE
NUTTS CORNER became the airport for Belfast in December 1946 with some improvements to the facilities provided in 1942. However, for some reason ALDERGROVE was then selected, (in around 1962…or before?), to become the airport for Belfast. It appears that BEA, BKS and Silver City were using Viscounts, DC-3 variants, and DH Herons. It was mentioned in a 1959 guide to British Airports that many charter flights “pass through”. Oddly this guide also states that amongst the types operated by BEA, BKS and Silver City was the “Pionair” type. This was the ‘Pionair Class’ DC-3 version operated by BEA.
Whilst confirming my opinion to be correct, (never, ever assume anything!), which thankfully it was – I came across a listing of types BEA had operated and it contained a few surprises. It appears that BEA operated the AW Argosy freighter and Boeing 707s (BEA Airtours) from NUTTS CORNER. Can the latter be correct? I'd have thought the main runway too short for 707 operations?
For example I certainly knew, (and even managed to remember), BEA operating the Airspeed Ambassador, BAC One-Eleven, DH Comet, DH Dragon Rapide & DH Heron, Douglas DC-3 (variants), HP Herald, HS Trident plus of course the essential Vickers elements, the Viking, ubiquitous Viscount* and Vanguard. (Plus the Vanguard freighter version – Merchantman). I now wonder which of these types BEA operated into NUTTS CORNER?
What I certainly did not know when starting out on this 'Guide' project was that BEA operated the Junkers Ju-52/3m into NUTTS CORNER and later on the Short 330 Skyliner – the latter a type I swear I’ve never heard of. A search on Google revealed this was a turbine version of the ‘Flying tea-chest’. Some people say that this was actually a fine looking aircraft, if only they removed the packing case.
Actually, now it has time to sink in, the BEA Junkers Ju-52 story now rings faint bells. Must look into this one day.
New note: Regarding the Ju-52s on reading The History of British European Airways Charles Woodley explains more of this history; see SYDENHAM for more info.
Note: These exceedingly rare pictures were kindly sent by Malcolm Wilson. The second picture shows his father, c.late 1950s, standing next to the Auster J/1N Alpha, G-APKM. This was built in 1958 and the first owner was J N Chafer Ltd of Doncaster who had it registered to them from 19.03.58 until 26.11.59, so perhaps at NUTTS CORNER on a business trip?
Malcolm Wilson
This comment was written on: 2018-12-02 00:15:44Sending photo of Tels office Nutts Corner, late 50’s, where my father worked mainly on the GCA trucks at bottom of runway Malcolm
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Malcolm, Many thanks. Regards, Dick
Joe Brown
This comment was written on: 2019-03-17 11:58:16I lived less than 1 mile from touchdown on the centreline of the 28 approach at Nutts Corner. I congratulate you on avoiding the error of the airport originating sometime around 1934. It looks like most researchers have consulted Wikipedia where someone has confused details of another airport at Belfast in 1930's. This erroneous information has been reproduced in some noteable publications. I have lots of information if you want to contact me - I like your comment on the viewing area - I have my photo from there of a close up of a visiting ex President Eisenhower. A lovely family friendly airport. Joe Brown.
Reply from Dick Flute:
Dear Joe, Sorry for the delay, I have been very ill. Many thanks, not least for noticing that my attitude of double-checking, if not triple-checking, so called 'accurate' information is in fact usually resulting in the correct answer. If you can kindly offer memories, sent as an e-mail, I will be very happy to include these into the main text. And, if you have any pictures that can be sent as j-pegs, these will be much appreciated too. My best regards, Dick
Joe Brown
This comment was written on: 2020-05-10 15:17:58Dear Dick, I have just today 10th April 2020 come across your reply to my 17th March 2019 communication. I do have memories which I will try to put together for you. Joe.
Nick Oakley
This comment was written on: 2021-06-10 05:04:41My first ever flight was in a BEA DC3 from Prestwick at the very end of the 50s. I can still remember caramels they handed out to ease popped ears, and my dad talking me through the engines running up and going through mag checks and prop checks. Nice to find these photos!
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