Home to a population in the 2001 of 11,265 people, its name is best known for being the site of the largest airfield in Europe during the Second World War. The camp was opened as RAF Burtonwood on 1st January 1940 but transferred to the United States Army Air Forces in June 1942 for use by that country following their entry into the conflict. Many USAAF Station Units were stationed at the airfield and by 1945 it was home to some 18,000 personnel who would flood the centre of Warrington during their leave.