RAF Acklington

Location : 3 miles South-West of Amble
OS Ref : NU 230 010

Map showing where the Acklington airfield was located.

RAF Acklington was built during the 1930's near the land of an old World War One landing site called Southfields. Southfields was a farm immediately to the South of Acklington village and 63 acres of its land was requisitioned for use as a 2nd class night landing ground for 36 (Home Defence) Squadron. It had been taken up by 31st October 1916 although it was not then ready for use. Its maximum dimensions were 800 x 460 yards. The Landing Ground was available for use until June 1919 when, following the disbanding of 36Sqn, was relinquished.

The 'new' airfield opened during December 1937 operating under No. 25 (Armament) Group within Training Command. The first aircraft to be based at the airfield were the Fairey Seal's of No.7 Armament Training Camp which formed at the airfield on 1st April 1938.

At the outbreak of the Second World War the airfield was transferred to No.13 (Fighter) Group within Fighter Command which had formed on 15th March 1939 to cover the defence of the North of England and Scotland. Despite the airfield being designated as a rest station during the Battle of Britain, the based squadrons saw plenty of action in the early stages of war though this diminished as the war progressed and attacks on the North-East subsided. During this period the station was re-assigned to No. 12 (Fighter) Group still within Fighter Command.

In 1944, with the majority of allied assets being concentrated at Normandy No.5022 Airfield Construction Squadron (ACS) under the command of 5357 Airfield Construction Wing (headquartered at Jesmond Dene, Newcastle) moved in during June to upgrade the airfield which included the creation of three new tarmac/asphalt runways and perimeter track. The three runways were set out in the traditional ‘A’ pattern, the longest being 1,900 yards (23/05), second 1,518 yards (19/01) and third 1,208 yards (12/30), all 50 yards wide. By the time work was complete in November 1944 the airfield boasted 16 Blister, 2 F-Type and 1 Bellman hangars. Dispersals consisted of 12 single-engine protective pens, 7 twin-engine hardstands and 6 twin-engine protective pens.

In the post-war RAF re-structuring Acklington became a forward airfield within the new Newcastle sector which had its headquarters at Blakelaw equipped with a day and night-fighter squadron. This was short lived as on 1st May 1946, the airfield reverted to its Armament Practice role

On 25th Feb 1952 the station was transferred to No. 81 (Training) Group, around this time a new T2 hangar was built to the South-West of the original expansion.

On 14th January 1957 the airfield returned to being a front-line fighter station, a status it maintained until 30th Sept 1960 when 66Sqn with their Hunters disbanded. During this time a Gaydon hangar had replaced the Bellman. The following year the station was again assigned to training with 6FTS becoming resident and later transferring to No 23 (Training) Group within Flying Training Command on 4th August 1961. 6FTS remained in residence until it was disbanded on 30th June 1968, the same disbandment date as the whole 23 Group.

No 38 (Air Support) Group (Jun 1968 - 1972) within Transport Command took over the airfield with the helicopters of 18Sqn (Battlefield Support Helicopter unit) & 202Sqn (ASR) in residence. ASR hangars were built for 202Sqn

18Sqn had moved to Odiham in the summer of 69 & by the end of 1972, 202Sqn had moved to Boulmer bring an end to flying. The airfield was placed care and maintenance finally closing in late 1972. The site was purchased by the Home Office who converted the main buildings it into a category ‘C’ prison, opening in 1973, the airfield becoming an open case mine.


Spitfire LFXVI TB252 guarded the gate at RAF Acklington before moving to Boulmer in 1969
 
Based units
Unit Arrived From Arrival Date Dept Date Departed To Aircraft
7ATC (Formed) 01/04/1938 01/04/1938 (to 7ATS) Seal
7ATS (7ATC renamed) 01/04/1938 15/11/1938 (to 2AOS) Seal, Henley, Whitley III
2AOS (7ATS renamed) 15/11/1938 03/09/1939 Warmwell Seal, Overstrands, Hind, Harrow II
152Sqn (Reformed) 02/10/1939 12/07/1940 Warmwell Gladiator I / II, Spitfire I
609Sqn Catterick 07/10/1939 17/10/1939 Drem Spitfire I
607Sqn Usworth 10/10/1939 14/10/1939 Croydon Gladiator I
111Sqn Northolt 27/10/1939 07/12/1939 Drem Hurricane I
43Sqn Tangmere 18/11/1939 26/02/1940 Wick Hurricane I
46Sqn Digby 10/12/1939 07/01/1940 Digby Hurricane I
72Sqn Church Fenton 13/01/1940 31/08/1940 Biggin Hill Spitfire I
79Sqn Sealand 13/07/1940 27/08/1940 Biggin Hill Hurricane I
32Sqn Biggin Hill 27/08/1940 15/12/1940 Middle Wallop Hurricane I
610Sqn Biggin Hill 31/08/1940 15/12/1940 Westhampnett Spitfire I
258Sqn Drem 17/12/1940 01/02/1941 Jurby Hurricane I
315Sqn (Formed) 08/01/1941 13/03/1941 Speke Hurricane I
317Sqn (Formed) 19/02/1941 29/04/1941 Ouston Hurricane I
141Sqn (Det.) Ayr 01/05/1941 29/01/1942 Acklington (perm) Defiant I
406Sqn (Formed) 10/05/1941 01/02/1942 Ayr Blenheim IF / IVF,Beaufighter IIF
74Sqn Gravesend 09/07/1941 03/10/1941 Llanbedr Spitfire IIA / VB
13TTF (Formed) 16/07/1941 08/12/1941 (to 1490TT Flt) Lysander II / III
43Sqn Drem 04/10/1941 16/06/1942 Tangmere Hurricane IIA/B
1490TT Flt (13TTF renamed) 08/12/1941 22/04/1942 (to 1490FG Flt) Lysander II / II, Henley, Master
141Sqn Ayr 29/01/1942 23/06/1942 Tangmere Beaufighter IF
1490FG Flt (1490TT renamed) 22/04/1942 04/09/1942 Ouston Master, Martinet
219Sqn Tangmere 23/06/1942 21/10/1942 Scorton Beaufighter IF
1Sqn Tangmere 08/07/1942 09/02/1943 Biggin Hill Hurricane IIB/C, Typhoon IB
410Sqn Scorton 20/10/1942 21/02/1943 Coleby Grange Beaufighter IIF, Mosquito II
409Sqn Coleby Grange 23/02/1943 19/12/1943 Coleby Grange Beaufighter VIF
198Sqn Ouston 09/02/1943 24/03/1943 Manston Typhoon IB
350Sqn Fairlop 23/03/1943 08/06/1943 Ouston Spitfire VC
6AAPS (Formed) 01/06/1943 17/06/1943 (to 1630Flt) Lysander II / III
416th FS Honiley 10/06/1943 04/08/1943 Maison Blanche, Algeria Beaufighter VIF
1630Flt (from 6AAPS) 17/06/1943 01/12/1943 (Disbanded into 291Sqn) Lysander II / III, Martinet
350Sqn Ouston 20/07/1943 25/08/1943 Digby Spitfire VC
349Sqn Digby 25/08/1943 22/10/1943 Friston Spitfire VA, Spitfire VB
316Sqn Northolt 22/09/1943 15/02/1944 Woodvale Spitfire IX, Spitfire LF.VB
3ADF Catterick 08/11/1943 22/11/1943 (Disbanded) Various
4ADF Grangemouth 25/11/1943 08/03/1944 Clifton Various
25Sqn Church Fenton 19/12/1943 05/02/1944 Coltishall Mosquito II/VI/XVII
130Sqn Scorton 21/12/1943 04/01/1944 Scorton Spitfire VB
409Sqn Coleby Grange 05/02/1944 01/03/1944 Hunsdon Beaufighter VIF, Mosquito XIII
56Sqn Scorton 23/02/1944 07/03/1944 Scorton Typhoon IB
222Sqn Catterick 25/02/1944 10/03/1944 Hornchurch Spitfire LF.IXB
322Sqn Hawkinge 10/03/1944 24/04/1944 Hartford Bridge Spitfire VC, Spitfire XIV
164Sqn Twinwood Farm 08/03/1944 16/03/1944 Thorney Island Typhoon IB
266Sqn Harrowbeer 15/03/1944 23/03/1944 Tangmere Typhoon IB
3TEU ‘C Flt’ Honiley 29/05/1944 13/06/1944 Honiley Typhoon IB
59OTU (Reformed) 26/02/1945 06/06/1945 (Disbanded) Typhoon IB, Master, Martinet
19Sqn Peterhead 23/05/1945 13/08/1945 Bradwell Bay Mustang IV
219Sqn Twente 14/08/1945 17/11/1945 Lübeck Mosquito XXX
263Sqn Manston 21/09/1945 24/01/1946 Charterhall Meteor F3
219Sqn Lübeck 02/12/1945 26/02/1946 Lübeck Mosquito XXX
130Sqn Charterhall 24/01/1946 27/01/1946 Manston Spitfire IXB
263Sqn Charterhall 01/03/1946 02/04/1946 Church Fenton Meteor F3
219Sqn Lübeck 09/03/1946 25/03/1946 Spilsby Mosquito XXX
219Sqn Spilsby 17/04/1946 01/05/1946 Wittering Mosquito XXX
APS Fairwood Common
(ex No.1 APS)
Spilsby
(ex No.2 APS)		 01/05/1946 27/07/1956 (Disbanded) Martinet TT1, Mosquito T3/FB6/TT35, Ballirol T2, Spitfire LF16e, Tempest TT5, Vampire F1/F3/FB5/T11, Meteor F4/T7/F8X
1Sqn Tangmere 17/06/1946 22/07/1946 Tangmere Spitfire F21
130Sqn Manston 17/06/1946 23/07/1946 Odiham Spitfire IXB
85Sqn Tangmere 07/08/1946 05/09/1946 Tangmere Mosquito NF36
54Sqn Odiham 09/08/1946 27/08/1946 Odiham Tempest F2
266Sqn Boxted 24/09/1946 31/10/1946 Boxted Meteor F3
41Sqn Wittering 11/11/1946 20/12/1946 Wittering Spitfire F21
91Sqn Duxford 06/01/1947 31/01/1947 (Renumbered 92Sqn) Meteor F3
141Sqn Wittering 09/01/1947 15/02/1947 Coltishall Mosquito NF36
257Sqn Church Fenton 12/01/1947 16/02/1947 Church Fenton Meteor F3
92Sqn (Reformed - ex 91Sqn) 31/01/1947 15/02/1947 Duxford Meteor F3
1Sqn Tangmere 24/02/1947 01/04/1947 Tangmere Meteor F3
29Sqn West Malling 26/02/1947 31/03/1947 West Malling Mosquito NF36
264Sqn Wittering 28/04/1947 05/06/1947 Wittering Mosquito NF36
141Sqn Coltishall 28/04/1947 05/06/1947 Coltishall Mosquito NF36
23Sqn Coltishall 28/04/1947 06/06/1947 Coltishall Mosquito NF36
85Sqn West Malling 16/06/1947 30/06/1947 West Malling Mosquito NF36
29Sqn West Malling 16/06/1947 24/07/1947 West Malling Mosquito NF36
25Sqn West Malling 16/06/1947 27/07/1947 West Malling Mosquito NF36
54Sqn Odiham 06/10/1947 27/11/1947 Odiham Vampire F1
72Sqn Odiham 06/10/1947 28/11/1947 Odiham Vampire F1
247Sqn Odiham 07/10/1947 27/11/1947 Odiham Vampire F1
29Sqn West Malling 05/01/1948 26/02/1948 West Malling Mosquito NF36
85Sqn West Malling 05/01/1948 26/02/1948 West Malling Mosquito NF36
25Sqn West Malling 05/01/1948 27/02/1948 West Malling Mosquito NF36
64Sqn Linton-on-Ouse 08/03/1948 30/04/1948 Linton-on-Ouse Hornet F1, Hornet F3?
65Sqn Linton-on-Ouse 22/03/1948 12/05/1948 Linton-on-Ouse Hornet F1, Hornet F3
266Sqn Tangmere 05/07/1948 24/08/1948 Tangmere Meteor F4
23Sqn Coltishall 04/10/1948 16/11/1948 Coltishall Mosquito NF36
263Sqn Horsham St. Faith 08/08/1949 01/09/1949 Horsham St. Faith Meteor F4
263Sqn Horsham St. Faith 23/10/1950 22/11/1950 Wattisham Meteor F8
264Sqn Leuchars 07/08/1952 25/08/1952 Linton-on-Ouse Meteor NF11
29Sqn Tangmere 14/01/1957 22/07/1958 Leuchars Meteor NF11, Javelin FAW6, Meteor NF12
66Sqn Linton-on-Ouse 14/02/1957 30/09/1960 (Disbanded) Hunter F4, Hunter F6
275Sqn (Det.) Leconfield 09/10/1957 01/09/1959 (Renum. 228Sqn) Sycamore HR14, Whirlwind HAR2 / HAR4
228Sqn (Det.) Leconfield 01/09/1959 28/08/1964 (Renum. 202Sqn) Sycamore HR14, Whirlwind HAR4 / HAR2 / HAR10
6FTS Ternhill 24/07/1961 30/06/1968 (Disbanded - Reformed 01/05/70) Provost T1, Jet Provost T3 / T4
202Sqn (Det.) Leconfield 29/08/1964 1972 Leconfield Whirlwind HAR10
18Sqn Gütersloh 05/01/1968 08/08/1969 Odiham Wessex HC2