The BAE Systems manufacturing and assembly facility at Warton, located on the banks of the River Ribble near Preston, has a rich history dating back to May 1939. As tensions escalated across Europe, the British Air Ministry began acquiring land west of Preston to establish a satellite airfield for RAF Squires Gate in Blackpool. Early work, including land drainage and runway construction, began soon after.
A pivotal moment in Warton's history occurred in late 1941 when Lord Beaverbrook, head of the Ministry of Aircraft Production (MAP), offered the airfield to the United States 8th Army Air Force as a Base Air Depot (BAD). The US Army Air Force (USAAF) used such depots outside the United States to carry out major maintenance, overhauls, and repairs of aircraft, as well as to prepare new aircraft for combat. In early January 1942, Frank Thomas was tasked by MAP with overseeing the construction of BAD2, which was to be completed by the end of 1942. At this point, two other BADs were operational: BAD1 in Burtonwood, near Warrington, and BAD3 in Langford Lodge, Northern Ireland. Initial work at Warton focused on completing the runways and building over 50 dispersal areas on concrete hard standings, some of which remain visible today.
The USAAF soon required the extension of all three runways to accommodate large bombers such as the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator. As work on the runways progressed, construction began on the main technical site, including hangars, workshops, and offices, which were completed by June 1943. Simultaneously, facilities to support the large number of American servicemen stationed at Warton were developed, including campsites, a hospital, and recreational facilities in nearby villages like Warton and Freckleton.
At its peak, the construction effort at Warton involved six main contractors, nearly 200 subcontractors, and around 7,000 workers, with additional professional staff. By July 1943, Warton was officially handed over to the USAAF. During its time as a Base Air Depot, Warton processed over 45,000 aircraft movements, including the assembly, modification, and servicing of 10,086 aircraft, including 4,372 P-51 Mustangs and 2,894 B-24 Liberators.
Tragedy struck on 23rd August 1944, when a Consolidated Liberator lost control during a storm over Freckleton and crashed into the Holy Trinity Church of England School. The crash killed 61 people, a tragedy remembered by a memorial in Freckleton.
The Americans reduced their presence at Warton following the end of the war, ceasing activities in August 1945. However, they established the Warton Army Technical School to provide re-education for American servicemen returning to civilian life. Eventually, control of the airfield was handed back to the Air Ministry, and the RAF used it as a maintenance unit (90 MU).
In late 1944, the Air Ministry asked the English Electric Company to submit proposals for a new jet bomber. The company, which faced space limitations at its factories in Preston and Samlesbury, identified Warton as a suitable site for the project. In late 1946, English Electric entered into an agreement with the Air Ministry to lease part of a hangar and office space at Warton.
By March 1947, English Electric personnel had established themselves at Warton, conducting tests with a Gloster Meteor jet as part of the B3/45 project, which would eventually lead to the development of the English Electric Canberra jet bomber. On 13th May 1949, the first flight of the Canberra occurred at Warton, marking a significant milestone. The success of the Canberra led to the development of the P1A, the precursor to the English Electric Lightning, with the first prototype P1A (WG 760) taking flight on 8th August 1954. English Electric expanded its presence at Warton to around 250 personnel by 1950, and the site grew with the addition of offices, hangars, and flight operations facilities.
In 1952, plans were submitted to extend the runway at Warton to support the P1A/Lightning project. However, objections from the RAF delayed this, as they had plans to relocate an all-weather fighter Operational Conversion Unit to Warton. The P1A was eventually completed at RAF Boscombe Down, where it first flew in 1954. In 1956, English Electric received permission to extend the runway at Warton to accommodate the P1A's successor, the P1B, which would later be known as the English Electric Lightning. The first prototype P1B flew from Warton in April 1957 and went on to become the first British aircraft to exceed twice the speed of sound.
Between 1959 and 1960, new high-speed wind tunnels were constructed at Warton, with one testing aircraft up to Mach 4 and another for guided weapons research at speeds up to Mach 6. Further upgrades to the airfield continued, including the installation of a modern landing light system in 1962 and crash barriers in 1963.
In 1956, the government initiated a project to develop a low-level strike and reconnaissance jet, which would eventually be known as the BAC TSR-2. Warton collaborated with Short Brothers on this project, but the nationalisation of the British aircraft industry led to the creation of the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), which took over the development of the TSR-2. The prototype of the BAC TSR-2 made its first flight at Boscombe Down in September 1964. However, the project was abruptly cancelled by the government on 6th April 1965, leading to uncertainty at Warton.
In the aftermath of the TSR-2 cancellation, Warton worked on the BAC Lightning and the development of the BAC Strikemaster, which first flew in October 1967. A significant collaboration followed with France, leading to the development of the SEPECAT Jaguar. The first UK-built Jaguar flew from Warton in September 1969, and production continued at the site. In 1969, a multilateral agreement between Germany, Italy, and the UK resulted in the development of the Panavia Tornado. A new assembly hall was constructed at Warton and officially opened by HRH Princess Anne in June 1977. The UK prototype of the Tornado first flew on 30th October 1974, and the first production Tornado was rolled out on 5th June 1979.
The 1980s saw the development of the Agile Combat Aircraft (ACA) project, which led to the creation of the Eurofighter Typhoon. The technology demonstrator, known as the Experimental Aircraft Programme (EAP), first flew from Warton on 8th August 1986. The success of the Typhoon program further solidified Warton’s role in global aviation. Through the 1980s and 1990s, Warton continued to expand with new buildings and facilities, including wind tunnels, a radar building, and modern aircraft spraying and engine test facilities. In 1999, British Aerospace merged with Marconi Electronic Systems to form BAE Systems, with Warton remaining a key centre for military aviation development.
Today, Warton remains at the forefront of BAE Systems’ Air Sector, contributing to projects like the Eurofighter Typhoon, Hawk, and F-35 Lightning II, as well as future projects like Tempest. The facility maintains a global reputation for innovation and technological advancement.