RAF Ringway

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RAF Ringway, was a Royal Air Force station near Manchester, UK, situated in the parish of Ringway.

Originally, Barton Aerodrome, opened in January 1930 and just west of Eccles, was planned to be the main airport for Manchester, but it became clear by 1934 that its small boggy grass airfield was inadequate for the larger airliners then coming into service including the Douglas DC-2 and DC-3.

A new airport site at Ringway, eight miles south of the city, was selected from several alternatives. Construction of the all-grass airfield commenced in late 1935 and the first (westerly) portion opened in June 1937 for use by Fairey Aviation. The remaining airfield areas and the terminal building were opened for public use on 25th June 1938. Initially known as Manchester (Ringway) Airport, then Manchester International Airport, from 1986 it has been designated simply Manchester Airport.

Construction of a Royal Air Force station, including two large hangars, commenced in the NE corner of the airport during spring 1939, with phased completion in early 1940. The hangars were initially used by No. 1 OTU, Coastal Command. From June 1940, Ringway became the wartime base for No.1 Parachute Training School, charged with the initial training of all allied paratroopers and for development of para drops of equipment; also the development of military gliding operations.

Over 4400 warplanes were built at Ringway by Fairey Aviation and Avro. These included the Fairey Battle, Fairey Fulmar, Fairey Barracuda, Bristol Beaufighter, Handley Page Halifax and Fairey Gannet. Avro's Ringway facility completed the prototype Avro Manchester, Avro Lancaster and Avro Lincoln bombers and produced the Avro York military transport aircraft).

613 (City of Manchester) Squadron had its home base at RAF Ringway during 1939 and again from 1946 to 1957 when it flew Spitfires and Vampire jet fighters. On the disbandment of 613 Squadron (and all other Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons) in March 1957, RAF Ringway was closed and its hangars and other buildings handed over for civil airline use.

A garden outside Olympic House (near Terminal 1) houses carved stone memorials to based wartime units and to 613 Squadron.

There is also a monument in terminal 1 to Alcock and Brown, the pioneers of transatlantic flight, of whom, John Alcock was born in Old Trafford, close to the airport.