FRE 2059

IMAGE

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Photo from the collection of Lt Royal K. Snell, who was copilot on the crew of Lt William A. Yowell in the 837th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group. This photo was taken while the crew was on flak leave at Southport, England during the first week of August 1944. Snell has handwritten on the reverse: 'Our crew & others at Southport on rest leave after 20 missions in B-24s.' This photo shows the sea bathing lake at Southport, UK, which was located in Princes Park in Southport, on the beach. The direction of view is due north. This bathing lake was open by 1928. It was located at about 53°39'05"N, 3°00'57"W, just south of Southport Pier, and about one mile northeast of the Palace Hotel. It had substantial bathhouse and gallery facilities. The ornate domed structure was located closest to the beach. The facility was open through at least 1974. The site is now occupied by a large shopping and entertainment mall. During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces sent aircrews to British manors or luxury hotels for a week of rest and recuperation, after they had flown a certain number of combat missions. The men called this 'flak leave', and they called the locations 'flak homes'. Southport was a flak leave destination. The flak home in the area was the Birkdale Palace Hotel, a large resort hotel located on beachfront property at the end of Weld Road, at 53°38'16"N, 003°01'32"W. It was designated USAAF Station 524, and was operated by the American Red Cross from 1942 to 1945. During that time it hosted some 15,000 American airmen. The hotel was torn down in 1969, and the location is now a residential area called Ascot Close. The former coach house at the north end of the hotel was left intact, and is now a pub on Weld Road called The Fishermens Rest.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units

The insignia of the 487th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Lieutenant Roy K Snell of the 487th Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress. Image via Roy K Snell. Snell has handwritten on the reverse: 'Home at Lavenham.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 487th Bomb Group 837th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-815002
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Locations

A bomber crew of the 487th Bomb Group, led by Roy K Snell, on leave at Southport. Image via Roy K Snell. Snell has handwritten on the reverse: 'Our crew & others at Southport on rest leave after 20 missions in B-24s.'
  • Site type: Military site
  • Known as: Palace Hotel

Revisions

Date:
ContributorPaulWebber
ChangesChanges to caption
Sources

1. Anderson, Barry J. 'Army Air Forces Stations'. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: USAF Historical Research Center, Jan 1985
http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf
2. de Jong, Ivo. 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'. Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
3. Google Maps
• Location of the former Birkdale Palace Hotel: Ascot Close, Southport, Sefton PR8; coordinates 53°38'16"N, 003°01'32"W. See: https://goo.gl/maps/Ea6kD
• Location of Fisherman's Rest pub: Weld Road, Birkdale, Southport, Sefton PR8 2BX; coordinates 53° 38' 17.9" N, 003° 01' 29.4" W. See: https://goo.gl/maps/KL41S
• Location of the former Southport sea bathing lake: 53°39'04.9"N, 3°00'56.9"W. See: https://goo.gl/maps/k1xNi
4. Southport Visiter: A look back at Southport's ourdoor swimming baths (see photo gallery)
http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/history/southports-outdoor-swimm…
5. Wikipedia. Birkdale Palace Hotel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkdale_Palace_Hotel

Date:
ContributorPaulWebber
ChangesChanges to caption
Sources

1. Anderson, Barry J. 'Army Air Forces Stations'. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: USAF Historical Research Center, Jan 1985
http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf
2. de Jong, Ivo. 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'. Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
3. Google Maps
• Location of the former Birkdale Palace Hotel: Ascot Close, Southport, Sefton PR8; coordinates 53°38'16"N, 003°01'32"W. See: https://goo.gl/maps/Ea6kD
• Location of Fisherman's Rest pub: Weld Road, Birkdale, Southport, Sefton PR8 2BX; coordinates 53° 38' 17.9" N, 003° 01' 29.4" W. See: https://goo.gl/maps/KL41S
• Location of the former Southport sea bathing lake: 53°39'04.9"N, 3°00'56.9"W. See: https://goo.gl/maps/k1xNi
4. Southport Visiter: A look back at Southport's ourdoor swimming baths (see photo gallery)
http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/history/southports-outdoor-swimm…
5. Wikipedia. Birkdale Palace Hotel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkdale_Palace_Hotel

Date:
ContributorPaulWebber
ChangesChanges to caption
Sources

1. Anderson, Barry J. 'Army Air Forces Stations'. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: USAF Historical Research Center, Jan 1985
http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf
2. de Jong, Ivo. 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'. Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
3. Google Maps
• Location of the former Birkdale Palace Hotel: Ascot Close, Southport, Sefton PR8; coordinates 53°38'16"N, 003°01'32"W. See: https://goo.gl/maps/Ea6kD
• Location of Fisherman's Rest pub: Weld Road, Birkdale, Southport, Sefton PR8 2BX; coordinates 53° 38' 17.9" N, 003° 01' 29.4" W. See: https://goo.gl/maps/KL41S
• Location of the former Southport sea bathing lake: 53°39'04.9"N, 3°00'56.9"W. See: https://goo.gl/maps/k1xNi
4. Southport Visiter: A look back at Southport's outdoor swimming baths [See the photo gallery.]
http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/history/southports-outdoor-swimm…
5. Wikipedia. Birkdale Palace Hotel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkdale_Palace_Hotel

Date:
ContributorPaulWebber
ChangesChanges to caption
Sources

1. Anderson, Barry J. 'Army Air Forces Stations'. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: USAF Historical Research Center, Jan 1985
http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf
2. de Jong, Ivo. 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'. Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
3. Google Maps
• Location of the former Birkdale Palace Hotel: Ascot Close, Southport, Sefton PR8; coordinates 53°38'16"N, 003°01'32"W. See: https://goo.gl/maps/Ea6kD
• Location of Fisherman's Rest pub: Weld Road, Birkdale, Southport, Sefton PR8 2BX; coordinates 53° 38' 17.9" N, 003° 01' 29.4" W. See: https://goo.gl/maps/KL41S
• Location of the former Southport sea bathing lake: 53°39'05"N, 3°00'57"W. See: https://goo.gl/maps/bZVVT
4. Southport Visiter: A look back at Southport's outdoor swimming baths [See the photo gallery.]
http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/history/southports-outdoor-swimm…
5. Wikipedia. Birkdale Palace Hotel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkdale_Palace_Hotel

Date:
ContributorEmily
ChangesChanges to person associations
Sources

Associated Royal K Snell from caption

Date:
ContributorPaulWebber
ChangesChanges to caption
Sources

Headquarters, AAF Station 137 (487th Bomb Group). Special Orders Number 119. 28 July 1944. This order directed the William A. Yowell crew, 837th Bomb Squadron, to proceed to Southport, England for flak leave on 1–7 August 1944.

Date:
ContributorPaulWebber
ChangesChanges to caption
Sources

The pub on Weld Road in Southport is The Fisermens Rest, not The Fisherman's Rest.
Ref: https://www.facebook.com/thefishermens/

Date:
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection