RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap)

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RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap)
Warrington, Cheshire in England
The M56 now runs through former RNAS Stretton
RNAS Stretton Shown within Cheshire Show map of Cheshire RNAS Stretton RNAS Stretton (the United Kingdom) Show map of the United Kingdom
Coordinates	53°20′42″N 2°31′31″W / 53.34500°N 2.52528°W / 53.34500; -2.52528
Type	Royal Naval Air Station
Site information
Owner	Admiralty
Operator	Royal Navy
Controlled by	Fleet Air Arm
Site history
Built	1942 (1942)
In use	1942-1958 (1958)
Airfield information
Elevation	67 metres (220 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 02/20 1,024 metres (3,360 ft) Asphalt concrete 09/27 1,829 metres (6,001 ft) Asphalt concrete 15/33 1,024 metres (3,360 ft) Asphalt concrete

Royal Naval Air Station Stretton (RNAS Stretton, also known as HMS Blackcap), was an airfield situated in the village of Appleton Thorn, though named for the neighbouring village of Stretton, south of Warrington, in Cheshire, England. Although the main runway remains, the northerly part of the airfield is now HM Prison Thorn Cross, and an industrial estate. In the 1970s, the M56 motorway was built across the former air station.

The airfield was originally built in the Second World War for the RAF but when Luftwaffe tactics changed, it was surplus to requirements so command of the station was given to the Royal Navy in 1942. The airfield was used by the Royal Navy to ferry aircraft to aircraft carriers in the Irish Sea. Post war it was used as an aircraft maintenance, spares and disposal depot. After it was used by several RNAS squadrons in the 1950s, the air station was closed in November 1958.