RAF Ouston
Location : 1 m S of Stamfordham, Northumberland
OS Ref : NZ 081 700
RAF Ouston opened on 10th March 1941 as a Fighter Sector HQ for No.13 Group replacing Usworth which had become a training station. Permission to requisition the necessary land had been granted in June 1939; however construction of the airfield was slow due mainly to the difficulty in accessing the site, but also because of challenges with the local farming community.
On completion, three runways had been built – 05/23 at 1,200 x 50 yards, 09/27 at 1,250 x 50 yards and 14/32 the longest at 1,400 x 50 yards. The layout of these runways was unusual in that they crossed almost at the centre of the airfield making them vulnerable in an air raid. A perimeter track connected the runways and included a few aircraft dispersals. Buildings consisted of a “J-1” Type hangar and Type 5845 Control Tower situated at the south side of the airfield. A decoy airfield was established at Berwick Hill, near Ponteland (NZ 181 767) in an attempt to divert enemy aircraft to the wrong area during air raids.
The first residents actually arrived before the station was officially opened, 13 Group Communications Flight making use of a grass strip in late 1940 with a number of civilian aircraft that had been impressed into service at the outbreak of war including a Vega Gull, two Magisters, three Gladiators, a Hornet Moth, a Proctor and a Whitney Straight.
On 11th April, the base became a satellite airfield for the Hurricane’s of 55OTU from Usworth and soon after a pilot from this unit got the unfortunate record of being the first person to crash at the airfield when Hurricane I L1926 flown by Sgt A Gilbert swung on landing, tipping the aircraft onto its nose on 15th April. The damage caused led to the aircraft being struck off charge, but fortunately the pilot was uninjured. The following day another aircraft from the same unit was lost, Hurricane I N2433 flown by P/O R Whaldon ended up on its nose after a tyre burst on landing and was also struck off. 55OTU continued to use Ouston until the unit moved from Usworth to Annan in late April 1942
317Sqn became the first operational unit based at the airfield when they made the short journey from Acklington on 29th April 1941 with 17 Hurricane I’s and 1 Fairey Battle. The Polish squadron under the command of Sqn Ldr A. N. Cole had only formed on 19th February at the neighbouring airfield. When transfer orders arrived they probably wished for a posting to an airfield closer to the real action instead of another bleak base in Northumberland. The operations record book for this period shows that English lessons and air discipline were high on the training agenda for this young squadron.
No.13 Group AACU (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Flight) who were based at Turnhouse established a detachment here on 5th May to work alongside the Anti-Aircraft batteries positioned on the North-East coastline. Records show that No. 7 AACU (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit) also formed a detachment here nine days later. It is unclear whether they operated independently or under the same flight.
Shortly after midnight on 7th May the airfield came under attack from enemy aircraft with 12 high explosives dropping onto the airfield from one aircraft which then proceeded to strafe the airfield with machine-gun fire. 317Sqn were in the process of recovering to the airfield low on fuel when the attack took place. Hurricane I (V7119) was destroyed by fire while damage was cause to the hangar and two other Hurricane I’s (V6602 & V6582). Sixteen RAF personnel were slightly injured.
On 2nd June Black Section of 317Sqn B Flight was vectored onto an enemy aircraft based on information passed from the local Royal Observer Corps. The enemy aircraft, a Junkers Ju.88A 3422/M2+DL of Ku.Fl.Gr.3./106 from Amsterdam Schiphol took evasive action flying for cloud cover but was shot down by F/O Niemiec flying Hurrican V7123 and Sgt. Baranowski flying W9183 both sharing the kill. The Junkers attempted a forced landing into the North Sea, but the pilot (Obfw. Bernhard Winse) and gunner (Obgfr. Heinrich Forstbach) were both killed, the other two crew members Observer (Oblt. z. See Hans Berger) and Wireless Op (Obgfr. Karl Schummers) were taken prisoner.
317Sqn left Ouston on 26th June for Colerne, but before unpacking were immediately reposted to Fairwood Common, an unfinished airfield which had only been operational for ten days, had no running water, any electricity and only temporary roads. The North East wouldn’t have seemed that bad after all! As the Hurricane’s of 317Sqn left, the Spitfire’s of 122Sqn arrived from Turnhouse for a few months stay.
131Sqn reformed at Ouston on 30th June as a fighter squadron with Spitfire Ia’s, but left soon after also for Catterick to continue their build up to operational status which was achieved in September at Atcham. The void left by 131Sqn was filled by 232Sqn flying their ageing Hurricane I’s. These were replaced by more powerful Hurricane IIB’s during August.
The North East including Ouston was targeted by enemy aircraft on the evening of 1st September. A high explosive hit a roadway in the centre of the airfield at approx. 22:55 creating a 20 ft wide, 6 ft deep crater. A water mains was also fractured and a number of glass panes broken.
A number of Defiant’s from ‘A’ flight 410Sqn, a Canadian night fighter unit arrived in early September on detachment to defend the Newcastle area. In November 232Sqn, who was planning to leave for the Middle East were instead re-routed to Singapore in an unsuccessful attempt to help prevent the island from falling into Japanese hands.
More Hurricanes’s arrived in December 1941 in the form of 1423Flt from Iceland. The small unit which became part of No.13 Group on its return to the United Kingdom was gradually reduced to number plate basis until it’s disbandment in late 1943. While in Iceland, the unit flew a dozen escort sorties for the HMS Prince of Wales which carried Winston Churchill.
The New Year brought Spitfire’s of 81Sqn to the airfield to perform defensive duties, deploying a number of times from Turnhouse. 281Sqn was formed at Ouston in the March to provide air-sea rescue for No.13 Group. Bolton-Paul Defiant’s an aircraft design for the fighter and bomber interceptor role were modified allowing them to carry two dinghies under each wing. More appropriate aircraft in the shape of Supermarine Walrus’s arrived in early 1943 to operate alongside the Defiant’s, the Defiant’s being eventually replaced by Anson aircraft in June that year just as the squadron was moving to Woolsington.
242Sqn was another Spitfire squadron to arrive from Turnhouse to perform defensive duties in May 1942. The squadron had reformed there on 10th April 1942 after being involved in the Battle of France, Battle of Britain (under the leadership of Sqn Ldr D.R.S Bader) and the Far East. After a short stay the squadron moved back North to Drem. 289Sqn also arrived at Ouston in May on detachment as an Anti-Aircraft co-operation unit to support the various A/A batteries around North-East England utilising a number of different of aircraft.
On 1st June 1942 243Sqn was re-formed at Ouston taking over the defensive duties and Spitfire’s of 242Sqn. The unit became operational less than two weeks later on the 12th. It left for Turnhouse in September to continue in the air defence role but by November had become non-operational, the unit sailing for North Africa, returning to operational status again in January 1943 in Algeria.
A detachment of 226Sqn Boston III’s were sent to the airfield to participate in a number of exercises and make use of the local bombing ranges. One such event was exercise ‘Dryshod’ an Army co-operation exercise to rehearse the Allied landings at Dieppe which took place later that month. Bad weather prevented the aircraft from arriving as scheduled on the 2nd August, but after a delay of two days twelve squadron aircraft left their home at Swanton Morley destined for Ouston, unfortunately three aircraft were immediately lost. AL679 crashed on approach to Ouston when an engine cut, a crew member was seriously injured and sadly died in hospital. Both engines failed on AL275 which resulted in the aircraft having to make a belly landing at Great Whittington, Northumberland. A third aircraft had to make a forced landing at the airfield.
613(City of Manchester)Sqn of the Auxiliary Air Force arrived in late August to re-equip with NA Mustang I fighter-bombers. The squadron’s current aircraft, the Tomahawk being sent to the Middle East. The early Mustang version, though equipped with an Allison engine was only suitable for low-level work and couldn’t perform very well at higher altitudes. Operational status was achieved in December the squadron flying escort and ground attack missions in addition to its tactical reconnaissance role. A detachment was sent to Odiham to perform ‘Rhubarb’ sorties into enemy occupied Europe. ‘Rhubarb’ sorties were operations where sections of fighters or fighter-bombers would take advantage of low cloud and poor visibility to cross the English Channel then drop below cloud level to search for opportunity targets such as railway locomotives and rolling stock, aircraft on the ground, enemy troops and vehicles on roads. The squadron left for Wing, Buckinghamshire in March 1943.
Due to lack of space at neighbouring Acklington, No.1490 (Target Towing) flight moved the short distance to Ouston in early September 1942 to provide air gunnery training for all No.13 Group units with a variety of aircraft. Later that month 72Sqn who had previously resided at both Acklington and Morpeth arrived at Ouston to prepare for an overseas move to North Africa with No. 3021 Servicing Echelon providing the maintenance. The squadron left for warmer shores on 8th November.
1943 brought the Royal Navy to Ouston, 804NAS becoming shore based at the airfield for a short stay with nine Sea Hurricane aircraft under the command of Lt Cdr A.J. Sewell DSC, RNVR. Also arriving during the first month of the New Year was 198Sqn, a night-fighter squadron with Hawker Typhoons to fly night defensive patrols over the North-East with No. 3004 Servicing Echelon providing the maintenance. The squadron moved the short distance to Acklington a month later before moving again to Manston to counter enemy fighter-bomber raids on South-East coastal towns.
657(AOP)Sqn formed at Ouston on 31st January 1943 with Auster I & III light aircraft to work with Army ground units in performing artillery spotting and liaison duties. Once operational, the unit moved to Westley, Suffolk en-route to North Africa.
350(Belgian)Sqn spent a little over a month at Ouston coming from and returning to Acklington with Spitfire Vb’s. A tragic accident occurred on the 11th July when F/O R van de Poll flying BM399 / MN-W and Sgt Grawl flying EN860 / MN-B collided with one another while on approach to the airfield. Both were killed instantly, the aircraft coming down on the perimeter of the base.
The installation of a barrage balloon in close proximity to Usworth and the fact that industrial haze often obliterated landmarks in a very short space of time put both aircraft and airmen of 62OTU at too much risk and resulted in part of the unit moving to Ouston on 21st June with Anson I’s. The unit had formed a year earlier at Usworth within No.81 (Training) Group to improve the standard of training of radio operators previously undertaken by No.3 Radio School (RS) at Prestwick, later transferring to No.9 (Fighter) Group on 20th April 1943. The HQ and remainder of the Unit completed the move to Ouston on15th July. The Ansons were fitted with the early Airborne Interception IV radar, easily distinguishable by the ‘arrowheads’ protruding from the aircrafts nose. A satellite was established at Woolsington on 22nd November when space at Outson became scarce; the unit now had over 50 Ansons on strength.
A detachment from 291Sqn arrived from Hutton with their target-towing aircraft for the local Anti-Aircraft batteries to train against.
The Durham University Air Squadron (UAS) arrived from Woolsington in March 1944 though the move was hardly significant as at that time it only had a sole DH Tiger Moth on strength. It had departed to Thornaby by the year-end.
62OTU increased in size when ‘C’ Flt was formed on 8th August 1944, the Oxfords of 1508 Beam Approach Training Flight which had arrived in June transferring to the OTU to undertake GEE training designed to improve aircraft navigation accuracy. On 15th September, the OTU was transferred to No.12 (Fighter) Group
A detachment of 288Sqn Beaufighter VI’s arrived for a short period in November to provided anti-aircraft co-operation with a variety of aircraft and practice for anti-aircraft units.
During March 1945, 29 Wellington XVII/XVIII radar trainers and 23 Hurricane IIC/IV arrived for the 62OTU the Hurricane’s to provide airborne targets. In May, with the war in Europe won the unit ceased flying on the 14th May and formally disbanded a few weeks later on 6th June 1945.
No. 80OTU which had formed in No.12 (Fighter) Group on 23rd April 1945 at Morpeth to train French single-seat fighter pilots for the four French Spitfire squadrons in 2nd Tactical Air Force (TAF) was the first post-war unit to reside at Ouston making the short journey in July 1945 with 24 Spitfire IX and 14 Master II aircraft. The unit remained until it was disbanded on 8th March 1946, further training of Armee de l’Air pilots continuing in France and Morocco.
The North-East’s ‘own’ squadron – 607 (County of Durham) Sqn which during war-time had been part of the air component with the British Expeditionary Force in France, had helped defend Southern England during the Battle of Britain and saw significant action in the South-East Asian Theatre reformed at Ouston on 10th May 1946 as a day fighter squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force with Spitfire FR.14’s. From January 1949, the squadron received the Spitfire F.22’s then entered the jet age with Vampire FB.5’s replacing the Spitfire during March 1951. To accommodate the jet fighters the main runway was extended and included quick reaction alert areas at both ends. A substantial concrete apron was also built by the “J-1” Type hangar. 607Sqn remained active until 10th March 1957 the date when all 20 of the current RAuxAF Force fighter squadrons were disbanded for the final time.
On the last day of May 1946 22SFTS (Service Flying Training School) arrived from Calveley with Harvard T.2B aircraft and remained at the airfield for nearly two years departing for Syerston on 1st February 1948. The number of resident training units increased when the Durham UAS returned to Ouston during September 1946, now with Harvards to compliment its Tiger Moths and remained until May 1949 when they departed for Usworth.
In June 1948, 27GS (Gliding School) arrived from Woolsington with Cadet TX.1 and TX.2 gliders. During 1949 the Cadet were joined by a new Sedbergh TX.1. The school stayed until at least December 1949, noted in residence at Usworth by November 1951.
Avro Anson T.21 (VV901) of No.2 Civilian Fighter Control Co-operation Unit (its sole aircraft) arrived from Usworth on 15th October 1957 to provide interception practice for fighter control units. The unit disbanded on 31st January 1961.
1965 (Reserve AOP) Flight (in 664Sqn) within No.64 Group formed at Ouston on 1st September 1949 with five Auster light aircraft to support the 50th Infantry Division. The Flight moved to Usworth in February 1954.
The Durham UAS returned for a third time during October 1957 now operating Chipmunk T.10 aircraft. The UAS was joined by the Chipmunk’s of 11AEF which had formed at Ouston on 8th September 1958.
On 1st January 1961 No.13 Group was reformed as No.11 (Fighter) Group at Ouston
Gliders returned to Ouston in 1962, 641GS noted as resident by the September with Cadet, Sedbergh & Prefect types. Left for Dishforth 31st December 1974
Durham UAS were re-designated Northumbria UAS on 1st August 1963 operating five Chipmunk’s and remained at Ouston until end of September 1974, the Chipmunk’s of the UAS and AEF leaving for Leeming on this date.
Between 1st November 1965 and the end of March 1966 Ouston became Newcastle Airport while the Woolsington airfield underwent alterations.
The end of September 1974 saw the airfield close as an active airfield. The airfield was passed to the army and re-named Albemarle Barracks and although no Army Air Corps aircraft have ever been based, the camp is still used by the AAC during exercises.
Based units
| Unit | Arrived From | Arrival Date | Dept Date | Departed To | Aircraft |
| 13Grp Comm. Flt | Woolsington | 1940 | 15/07/1943 | Inverness / Longman | Various |
| 55OTU (Satellite) |
Usworth | 11/04/1941 | 24/04/1942 | Annan | Hurricane I , Master |
| 317Sqn | Acklington | 29/04/1941 | 26/06/1941 | Colerne | Hurricane I |
| 13Grp AACU (Det.) |
Turnhouse | 05/05/1941 | ??/10/1941 | Dalcross | Blenheim IV, Lysander II |
| 7AACU (Det.) | Castle Bromwich | 14/05/1941 | 01/12/1943 | (to 577Sqn) | ? |
| 122Sqn | Turnhouse | 26/06/1941 | 31/08/1941 | Catterick | Spitfire I |
| 131Sqn | (Reformed) | 30/06/1941 | 10/07/1941 | Catterick | Spitfire Ia |
| 232Sqn | Abbotsinch | 21/07/1941 | 11/11/1941 | (Far East) | Hurricane I / IIB |
| 410Sqn (Det.) | Drem | 02/09/1941 | 07/04/1942? | Drem | Defiant I |
| 1423Flt | Reykjavik | 19/12/1941 | 22/11/1943 | (Disbanded) | Hurricane I, Battle |
| 81Sqn | Turnhouse | 06/01/1942 | 14/02/1942 | Turnhouse | Spitfire Va |
| 81Sqn | Turnhouse | 15/03/1942 | 29/03/1942 | Turnhouse (Det. Remained at Ouston) |
Spitfire Va |
| 281Sqn | (Formed) | 29/03/1942 | 14/06/1943 | Woolsington | Defiant I, Walrus, Anson I |
| 81Sqn | Turnhouse | 13/04/1942 | 14/05/1942 | Hornchurch | Spitfire Vb |
| 242Sqn | Turnhouse | 15/05/1942 | 01/06/1942 | Drem | Spitfire Vb |
| 289Sqn (Det.) | Turnhouse | 18/05/1942 | 26/06/1945 | (Disbanded) | Hurricane I / IIC / IV, Oxford, Defiant I / III, Martinet |
| 243Sqn | (Formed) | 01/06/1942 | 02/09/1942 | Turnhouse | Spitfire Vb |
| 226Sqn (Det.) | Swanton Morley | 04/08/1942 | ? | Hartford Bridge | Boston III / IIIA |
| 613Sqn | Twinwood Farm | 28/08/1942 | 01/03/1943 | Wing | Mustang I |
| 1490Flt | Acklington | 04/09/1942 | 25/01/1943 | Ayr | Lysander II / III / IIIA, Henley, Master III, Martinet TT.1 |
| 72Sqn | Ayr | 26/09/1942 | 08/11/1942 | (En-route N. Africa) | Spitfire Vb |
| 804Sqn | Machrihanish | 03/01/1943 | 03/02/1943 | Twatt | Sea Hurricane IIC |
| 198Sqn | Digby | 23/01/1943 | 09/02/1943 | Acklington | Typhoon IA / IB |
| 657Sqn | (Formed) | 31/01/1943 | 01/05/1943 | Westley | Auster I / III |
| 291Sqn (Det.) | Hutton | 1943 | 1945? | (Disbanded) | Henley III, Martinet, Hurricane IIC / IV, Vengeance IV? |
| 350Sqn | Acklington | 08/06/1943 | 20/07/1943 | Acklington | Spitfire Vc |
| 62OTU | Usworth | 21/06/1943 | 06/06/1945 | (Disbanded) | Anson I, Oxford, Wellington XVII / XVIII, Hurricane IIC / IV |
| Durham UAS | Woolsington | 25/03/1944 | 31/12/1944 | Thornaby | Tiger Moth |
| 1508Flt | Swanton Morley | 24/06/1944 | 08/08/1944 | (Disbanded) | Oxford |
| 288Sqn (Det.) | Church Fenton | 20/11/1944 | ? | ? | Beaufighter VI |
| 80OTU | Morpeth | ??/07/1945 | 08/03/1946 | (Disbanded) | Master II, Spitfire IX |
| 607Sqn | (Reformed) | 10/05/1946 | 10/03/1957 | (Disbanded) | Spitfire FR.14 / F.22, Vampire FB.5 |
| 22SFTS | Calveley | 31/05/1946 | 01/02/1948 | Syerston | Harvard T.2B |
| Durham UAS | Thornaby | ??/09/1946 | 02/05/1949 | Usworth | Tiger Moth, Harvard |
| 27GS | Woolsington | ??/06/1948 | ??/12/1949 | Usworth | Cadet I / II / TX.3, Sedbergh TX.1 |
| 1965Flt | (Formed) | 01/09/1949 | 14/02/1954 | Usworth | Auster AOP.5 / AOP.6 |
| 13Grp Comm. Flt | Newton | 01/11/1955 | 01/01/1961 | (Redesignated 11Grp Comm. Flt) | Anson C.19 / C.21, Meteor T.7 / F.8 / NF.14, Devon C.1, Chipmunk T.10 |
| Durham UAS | Usworth | 15/10/1957 | 01/08/1963 | (Redesignated Northumberian UAS) | Chipmunk T.10 |
| 11AEF | (Formed) | 08/09/1958 | 30/09/1974 | Leeming | Chipmunk T.10 |
| 11Grp Comm. Flt | (From 13Grp Comm. Flt) | 01/01/1961 | 25/09/1961 | Leconfield | Anson C.19, Devon C.1 |
| 6FTS (as RLG) | Acklington | 25/09/1961 | 30/06/1968 | (Disbanded) | Provost, Jet Provost |
| 4MGSP | Church Fenton | 01/03/1962 | (27/09/1974) | Leeming | Various |
| Northumberian UAS | (From Durham UAS) | 01/08/1963 | 30/09/1974 | Leeming | Chipmunk T.10 |
| 202Sqn (Det.) | Leconfield | ??/08/1964 | 01/09/1976? | Finningley | Whirlwind HAR.10 |