The old Burtonwood airbase situated close to Warrington in the north -west of the UK had once been a thriving American military base during the Second World War. Most of the base has now sadly disappeared beneath housing and motorway developments but there still remain several unexplained ghost sightings associated with it.
Shortly after the end of the war on Christmas Eve 1946, two American NCOs were returning to their quarters after celebrating at a nearby local pub. As they approached they were unnerved to see an eerie swirling mist. Exchanging puzzled glances with each other they moved closer and were shocked to see an airman step out of the mist – minus his head!
Now it would be easy to put the sighting down to the NCOs having indulged in too much local brew but the same figure was also reported by a boiler man and a group of women returning from a dance. Over the months there followed several more spectral appearances.
There was much speculation at the base as to the ghost’s identity. Some thought that the ghost was connected with a tragic event in 1944 when a bomber crash-landed on approach and the pilot pressed the ejector button when the turret was only half open, thus slicing off his head.
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Until a few years ago, one of the old aircraft hangers – Hanger K – was used as a museum. A local man who wishes to remain anonymous gave up his Saturdays to work there renovating old military aircraft.
During one such afternoon in 1978, he was alone working on an amphibious aircraft. At the bottom of the hanger was an old bus rescued from a nearby wood land. As he worked on the aircraft, he began to feel uneasy – as if being watched. He glanced up and noticed an old bearded man sitting behind the wheel of the bus. He was about to walk over to the bus when his attention was distracted by another museum helper.
“Who let the old guy in?’ he asked
‘What old guy? There’s only you and me here,’ came the bemused reply.
They searched the hanger from top to bottom but there was no sign of anyone. Details of the ownership of the old bus later emerged when an elderly lady said her brother, who was long dead had been a gamekeeper, and something of a recluse. He had taken to living in the bus for several years. After he died the bus had been dumped among the trees where he used to work. It would seem his spirit had followed the bus to the airbase!
On another occasion the voluntary museum worker had left the base around 11.30 pm after a hard day working on renovations. As he drove past gate 13, he noticed someone standing there wearing a military uniform that had the appearance of a Second World War outfit. Puzzled he drove on but seconds later he felt a sudden drop in the temperature inside the car and an odd glow radiated from the passenger seat besides him.
Normally he drove only along the access road when leaving the base but for some strange reason he felt compelled to drive to the car park instead and stop the vehicle. Then, almost as if in a trance, he climbed out of the car, walked around the other side, and opened the passenger door as if to let someone out. The ghostly presence was obviously someone who had been used to being treated with respect in his earthly life and quite probably an officer!
About the Author
LINDA PRESTON WORKS AS A PROFESSIONAL PSYCHIC & WRITER OF PARANORMAL ARATICLES.HER WORK HAS BEEN FEATURED POSITIVELY IN NATIONAL MAGAZINES & SHE IS A FREQUENT EXPERT GUEST ON VARIOUS RADIO SHOWS. SHE CAN BE CONTACTED VIA HER WEBSITE AT http://www.psychicreadingsbylinda.co.uk
(Written Wed Aug 15th, 2007, by LINDA PRESTON)
