100 FLYPAST September 2018
AIRFIELDS CUMBRIA TO SCOTLAND
much of the land that became
Great Orton airfield had belonged
to Watchtree Farm. It was not
ready until October 1943 when it
became a relief landing ground
(RLG) for 55 OTU’s Hawker
Hurricanes, based across the
Solway at Annan. By the summer
of 1944 the Wellingtons of Silloth’s
6 (C)OTU were ‘bashing the circuit’
but by April 1945 all had
fallen silent.
The following month, 249 MU
arrived and thousands of tons of
bombs and ammunition was stored
in the open, awaiting safe disposal.
This work was not completed until
August 1952, but it was another
12 years before the land was
returned to agriculture.
Microlights flew at Great
Orton from 1989 until 2001. A
windfarm was developed along
the northwest-southeast runway
during the 1990s and the original,
relatively modest turbines, were
soon replaced with the 150ft (45m)
towers with 75ft diameter blades
that dominate the horizon today.
To the west of the nature reserve,
the derelict control tower is extant
but on private property.
FlyPast readers must put this
venue on their ‘to do list’. Here
they can walk the ‘triangle’ of the
runway layout, view exhibitions on
the airfield’s past and enjoy the
picturesque scenery.Regional gateway
To the east of Carlisle, Crosby-on-
Eden opened for training purposes
in February 1941 and throughout
its short RAF existence, readying
aircrew for combat was the
main theme. The Hurricanes and
Hawker Typhoons of 59 OTU
gave way to the Bristol Beauforts“To the west of the nature reserve, the derelict control tower is extant but
on private property. Readers must put Great Orton and the Watchtree Nature
Reserve on their ‘to do list’”
During March and April, bitter winter conditions ravaged Great Britain – dubbed ‘The Beast from
the East’ by the media. A lull allowed an excursion aloft to reveal a snow-covered Great Orton,
looking north towards the Solway Firth. The former runway layouts are evident; the control tower
is circled. COURTESY AND © WATCHTREE NATURE RESERVE
Inset above
Great Orton’s watch tower survives on the western side of the former airfi eld.