RAF Acklington

RAF Acklington RAF Southfields RFC Southfields
'B' flight, No. 409 Sqn RCAF with one of their Bristol Beaufighters in January 1942.
IATA: none – ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force
Location	Acklington, Northumberland
Built	1916
In use	1916–1920 1938–1975
Elevation AMSL	95 ft / 29 m
Coordinates	55°17′46″N 001°38′04″W / 55.29611°N 1.63444°WCoordinates: 55°17′46″N 001°38′04″W / 55.29611°N 1.63444°W
Map
RAF Acklington Location in Northumberland
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 05/23[1] 5,700 1,740 Asphalt 01/19[1] 4,554 1,390 Asphalt 12/30[1] 3,624 1,100 Asphalt

Royal Air Force Station Acklington, simply known as RAF Acklington, is a former Royal Air Force station located 3.2 miles (5.1 km) south west of Amble, Northumberland and 8.8 miles (14.2 km) north east of Morpeth, Northumberland.

The airfield was operational initially from 1916 being used the Royal Flying Corps and from April 1918 its successor the Royal Air Force (RAF) before being closed in 1920 however it was reopened in 1938 being used by the RAF until 1975. After 1975 the site was turned over to Her Majesty's Prison Service for the creation of two new prisons.

History

First World War

Acklington was an aerodrome during the First World War and known as Royal Flying Corps Station Southfields.^[2]

Second World War

The airfield was reopened on Friday 1 April 1938 being renamed to RAF Acklington where No. 7 Armament Training Station was formed which on 15 November 1938 transformed into No. 2 Air Observers School. During September 1939 the school moved to RAF Warmwell and the airfield was handed over to RAF Fighter Command as part of 13 Group where it became a sector airfield.^[3]

The following squadrons were at some point posted or attached to RAF Acklington:^[4]

• 43, 46, 111, 152, 245, 258, 600, 607 and 609.

Battle of Britain

RAF Acklington was home to the following squadrons during the Battle of Britain:

• 72 Squadron between 6 June 1940 and 31 August 1940 with the Supermarine Spitfire Mk I before moving to RAF Biggin Hill.^[5]
• 79 Squadron between 13 July 1940 and 27 August 1940 with the Hawker Hurricane Mk I before moving to RAF Biggin Hill.^[6]
• 32 Squadron between 28 August 1940^[7] and 15 December 1940 with the Hurricane Mk I before moving to RAF Middle Wallop.^[8]
• 610 Squadron between 31 August 1940^[9] and 15 December 1940 with the Spitfire Mk I before moving to RAF Westhampnett.^[10]

October 1940–1945

The following squadrons were at some point posted or attached to RAF Acklington:^[4]

• 1, 25, 43, 56, 63, 74, 130, 141, 164, 167, 198, 219, 222, 263, 266, 278, 288, 289, 291, 309, 315, 316, 317, 322, 349, 350, 406, 409, 410, 504, 539 and 609.

Postwar use

The following squadron were at some point posted or attached to RAF Acklington:^[4]

• 18, 19, 23, 25, 29, 41, 54, 56, 64, 65, 66, 74, 85, 91, 92, 130, 140, 202, 219, 228, 247, 257, 263, 264, 266 and 275.

Airfield units

The following units were at some point posted or attached to RAF Southfields/Acklington:^[2]

• No. 1 Fighter Command Servicing Unit
• No. 3 Aircraft Delivery Flight
• No. 3 Tactical Exercise Unit
• No. 4 Aircraft Delivery Flight
• No. 6 Flying Training School
• No. 13 Group Target Towing Flight
• No. 24 (Base) Defence Wing
• No. 59 Operational Training Unit RAF
• No. 147 Airfield
• 416th NFS
• No. 1460 (Fighter) Flight
• No. 1490 (Target Towing) Flight
• No. 1630 (Army Air Corps) Flight
• Fighter Armament Trials Unit

Current use

RAF Acklington closed in 1975 and is now the site of Acklington and Castington prisons.^[2]

See also

• List of former Royal Air Force stations

References

Citations

1. Delve 2006, p. 26
2. "Acklington (Southfields)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
3. "RAF Acklington". The Wartime Memories Project. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
4. Jefford 1988, p. 153.
5. "Battle of Britain history of No. 72 Squadron.". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
6. "Battle of Britain history of No. 79 Squadron.". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
7. "Battle of Britain history of No. 32 Squadron.". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
8. Jefford 1988, p. 35.
9. "Battle of Britain history of No. 610 Squadron.". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
10. Jefford 1988, p. 99.

Bibliography

• Delve, Ken. The Military Airfields of Britain: Northern England: Co. Durham, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Merseyside, Manchester, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Yorkshire. Ramsbury, Wiltshire, UK: The Crowood Press, 2006. ISBN 1-86126-809-2
• Jefford MBE, Wg Cdr C G (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.

External links

• RAF Acklington Record Book 1939–45 (Transcript)
• Royal Air Force – RAF Acklington
• Royal Air Force Battle of Britain – 13 Group Installations