Southport

Military site
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.' media-380864.jpg FRE 2059 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. Roger Freeman Collection

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

Object Number - FRE 2059 - 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....

Run by the American Red Cross, Southport was one of 16 country houses or 'flak homes' which housed airmen for Rest and Recuperation away from the stress of flying missions. Each serviceman was entitled to at least one rest period during their 25-30 mission tour.



Southport was the largest of all of the Rest Homes and by the end of the war 15,000 men had passed through its doors.

Connections

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Detailed History

The Southport Rest Home was activated by the American Red Cross on 19th February 1943 by taking over the very large Birkdale Palace Hotel, to the south of the town.



However the 8th Air Force Medical experts, responsible for the R & R program, felt the place lacked the proper ambience and facilities and preferred to use country house accommodation whenever possible.



During a German raid in 1943 it was thought that the Palace Hotel was one of the intended targets - unfortunately the bomb fell on Dr. Barnardo's Sunshine Home For Blind Babies, with considerable loss of life.



As of November 1944, the capacity of the Southport Rest Home was 50 Officers and 100 Enlisted Men. Two thirds of the rooms had been allocated to the Ninth Air Force.



Post war, the hotel had a chequered history leading eventually to its demolition and replacement by a housing development known as Ascot Place.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-125744
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 323rd Bomb Group 387th Bomb Group 391st Bomb Group 453rd Bomb Squadron 454th Bomb Squadron 557th Bomb Squadron 572nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14192412 on enlisting
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Reworked the balance of information between the station summary field and the detailed history field.

Date
ContributorMikeO
Changes
Sources

Report to the Surgeon, HQ Eighth Air Force dated 11 Dec 1944.

Date
ContributorMikeO
Changes
Sources

'Flak' Houses Then and Now, Thomas, After the Battle

Date
ContributorMikeO
Changes
Sources

Report to the Surgeon, HQ 8th AF, dated 11 Dec 1944.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / D A Lande, from Somewhere in England (Airlife Publishing, UK, 1991)

Southport: Gallery (3 items)