Review by Fedor van de Pol
Nutts Corner – In War and Peace 1941 -1963 by Guy Warner & Ernie Cromie, Colourpoint Books, SB 200 pages, Pilot.ie €20, ISBN 9781780733951
Nutts Corner was Northern Ireland’s International Airport from 1946 until 1963. It is therefore surprising that “Nutts Corner – In War and Peace 1941 -1963” by Guy Warner and Ernie Cromie is the first book about the airport. The book consists of two parts, the war period from 1941 -1946 and the civil period from 1946-1963. It was in June 1940 that construction of the airfield was first approved with the work beginning later that year. It was envisaged to be completed by April 1942 for the main works and September 1943 for the supplementary works, and to be used by Coastal Command. After the Belfast Blitz, however, the airfield was already opened in May 1941 with Defiant night fighters arriving for a ten day period. No. 120 Squadron was re-formed at Nutts Corner on 1st June of that year, receiving the new Liberator. Its long range was used to close the gap of air cover over the convoys in the Atlantic against U-boat attacks. No. 120 Squadron moved to Ballykelly in July 1942, continuing its significant contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic. With other airfields in Northern Ireland becoming available and the Second World War turning in the Allies’ favour, it is interesting to read how the use of Nutts Corner changed as the war progressed. It was used for the training of British glider forces and American parachute infantry, before the No. 231 army-cooperation Squadron, stayed at Nutts Corner in the beginning of 1943. The training role continued with 104 Operational Training Unit being formed at the airfield on 12th March 1943, flying Wellingtons. It was part of No. 44 Group, RAF Ferry Command, with Nutts Corner becoming a Transatlantic Air Ferry Terminal. The quickest and arguably safest way to ferry aircraft to Great Britain was to fly them across the Atlantic of course. The USAAF joined at Nutts Corner during 1943, with its supporting units also being covered. The most unusual support that Nutts Corner was asked to provide, was to the US Naval Transport Service, flying Coronado flying boats to Lough Neagh. The airfields suitability to heavy aircraft also saw No. 1674 Heavy Conversion Unit, providing crews for Coastal Command, and No. 1332 Heavy Conversion Unit for Transport Command, being stationed at Nutts Corner. After VE-Day, the airfield became a Fleet Air Arm station and continued to be used for training. With the war in the Pacific suddenly ending with the two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki though, it was then used for the disbandment of Seafire, Hellcat and Corsair squadrons until March 1946.
As Nutts Corner had relatively long runways, it was opened as Northern Ireland’s civil international airport on 1st December 1946. It replaced Belfast Harbour Airport at Sydenham, although not without controversy. The initial network during the late 1940s within the British Isles used small aircraft like Rapides, Avro 19’s, Ju 52’s, DC-3’s and even a Fokker F.XXII. Lancastrians, Halifaxes and Liberators were used for the Milk Lifts to supply England with fresh milk. With passenger numbers growing in the 1950s, more modern and larger aircraft such as Vikings, Ambassadors, Viscounts, DC-4’s, DC-6’s, DC-7’s and Constellations were introduced, with flights to mainland Europe and the USA. Many other types visited on special occasions or due to diversions. The tragic day of 5th January 1953, Northern Ireland’s worst air disaster, cannot be omitted, when BEA Viking G-AJDL crashed during landing, and 24 passengers and three crew were killed. New larger and faster aircraft like the Britannia and the Vanguard showed the limitations of Nutts Corner with only one long runway and a steep approach needed to reach it. It was decided that Aldergrove would become Northern Ireland’s new international airport and on 26th September 1963, Nutts Corner Airport was officially closed.
The above is a summary of the history and facts of Nutts Corner. The best part of the book in the eyes of this reviewer are all the personal stories that have been captured, together with all the fabulous photographs and maps to illustrate the story, all beautifully reproduced by publisher Colourpoint. Some of those are in colour and most of have never been published before. The only regrettable aspect is that this book is the last cooperation between Guy and Ernie. Many thanks are due to Guy for finishing “Nutts Corner – in War and Peace 1941 -1963” and also to the sponsors that Ernie Cromie’s wish that it would be published is fulfilled. All the proceeds are going to Northern Ireland’s Children’s Hospice. This book is highly recommended.
Available to buy from Pilot.ie here.
