Acklington
ACKLINGTON: Military aerodrome* (Also known as SOUTHFIELDS)
Note: This picture was obtained from Google Earth ©
Even today the outline of the WW2 airfield can be clearly seen and the 'trading estate' at the southern end are where the hangars, admin, accommodation etc were situated.
Military users: WW1: RFC/RAF (Royal Flying Corps / Royal Air Force)
36 [Home Defence] Sqdn (Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c)
BETWEEN THE WARS
Note: This picture is from a postcard kindly sent by Mike Charlton, a great friend of this 'Guide' who has a most amazing collection. See: www.aviationpostcard.co.uk
The postcard isn't dated but certainly appears to be from the 1930s.
Early 1939: RAF 152 Sqdn (Gloster Gladiators & Vickers-Supermarine Spitfires)
607 Sqdn (Gladiators)
Training: (Boulton Paul Overstrands & Sidestrands, Fairey Seals & Hawker Hinds)
WW2: RAF Fighter Command 13 Group
32 & 43 Sqdns (Hawker Hurricanes)
*Battle of Britain RAF Station (10th July 1940) 13 Group
72 & 152 Sqdns (Vickers-Supermarine Spitfires)
(1st August 1940) I52 Sqdn had been posted and replaced by 79 Sqdn flying Hurricanes
(1st September 1940) By now 72 & 152 Sqdns had moved on, 72 Sqdn going south to KENLY (SURREY) and 152 Sqdn to WARMWELL (DORSET). These Spitfire Sqdns were replaced by Spitfires from 610 Sqdn and 32 Sqdn flying Hurricanes, both posted from BIGGIN HILL (KENT)
AT OTHER TIMES IN WW2
1 Sqdn (Hawker Typhoons)
43 Sqdn (Hawker Hurricanes)
79 Sqdn, 315 & 317 (Polish) Sqdns (Hurricanes)
72, 130 (Punjab), 152 (Hyderabad)*, 316 (Polish) & 610 'County of Chester' Sqdns (Vickers-Supermarine Spitfires)
309 (Polish) Sqdn (North American P-51 Mustangs)
141 Sqdn (Bristol Beaufighters)
410 (RCAF) Sqdn (de Havilland Mosquitos)
USAAF 416th NFS (Night Fighter Squadron) flying Bristol Beaufighter Mk.VIFs
Post 1945: 19 Sqdn (Mustangs)
91 & 92 Sqdns (Gloster Meteors)
Westland Whirlwind helicopters, still recorded in 1975
Location: 0.5nm SSW of Acklington, on the B6345, 4nm WSW of Amble
Period of operation: 1916 to 1919 Later 1942 to 1946?
Rotary wing ops until 1975 at least?
Site area: WW1: 63 acres 732 x 421
Runways: WW2: 12/30 1097x46 hard 01/19 1380x46 hard
05/23 1737x46 hard
NOTES: *According to one history of 152 (Hyderabad) squadron I’ve found, it appears the squadron was formed here working up from basic training on Avro Tutors, then to Hawker Harts and Gladiators before getting fully operational with Spitfires. I think it would be very interesting, to say the least today, to enquire about the ethnic origins of the pilots?
Although this airfield may well have closed down in 1946 or soon after for fixed wing flying it seems that helicopter operations continued until at least 1969? For example it seems pretty certain a Westland Whirlwind from ACKLINGTON took part in the USWORTH air display in 1969.
Terry Clark
This comment was written on: 2018-10-17 00:07:51RAF Acklington was open for fixed wing traffic until 1968 with aircraft of No 6 FTS presumably using Jet Provosts. There was also an SAR helicopter flight there
william elliott
This comment was written on: 2020-11-30 16:42:44I have read in some books that acklington closed altogether in1972 after being turned into a prison.In fact A flight 202 squadron air sea rescue operated a pair of har10 westland whirlwinds from here until October 1975,when they moved up the road about 7 miles to r.a.f. Boulmer.
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