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Acklington, Northumberland

Southfields / Acklington
Opened : April 1938
​Closed : 1972
Elevation : 120ft
Pundit Code : AL
USAAF Sta No : n/a​
Current use : Prison / Agriculture
​
This page last updated on : 26 August 2013

MEMORIAL SITE : RAF Acklington Memorial


RAF Acklington Timeline

01.12.37
01.04.38
15.11.38

03.09.39
01.10.39
06.11.39
06.10.39
09.10.39
17.10.39
27.10.39
14.11.39
18.11.39
07.12.39
10.12.39
01.40
17.01.40
26.02.40
02.03.40
​01.06.40 

06.06.40
12.07.40
13.07.40
28.08.40

27.08.40
31.08.40
31.08.40
15.12.40
19.12.40
19.12.40
14.12.40
21.01.41
01.02.41
22.02.41

13.03.41
29.04.41
01.05.41
09.05.41
10.05.41

06.41
08.07.41
08.41
08 41
07.08.41
​03.10.41 
​
08.12.41 
​
15.12.41
29.01.42
01.02.42
05.42
23.05.42
06.42
01.06.42
23.06.42
23.06.42
08.07.42
09.42
02.09.42
04.09.42
21.10.42
21.01.43
09.02.43
09.02.43
21.02.43
23.02.43
16.03.43
23.03.43
24.03.43
01.06.43
08.06.43
21.06.43 

28.06.43
20.07.43
25.08.43
25.08.43
22.09.43
22.10.43
08.11.43
22.11.43
22.11.43
25.11.43
01.12.43
10.12.43
19.12.43
19.12.43
19.12.43
04.01.44
05.02.44
05.02.44
15.02.44
16.02.44 

16.02.44
23.02.44
25.02.44
03.44
01.03.44
​07.03.44 

08.03.44
08.03.44
10.03.44
10.03.44
15.03.44
15.03.44
16.03.44
21.03.44
23.03.44
01.04.44
23.04.44
11.05.44
29.05.44
13.06.44
06.44

06 44
20.11.44
1945

02.45
26.02.45
07.05.45
18.05.45
23.05.45
06.06.45
12.07.45
13.08.45
​14.08.45 

19.08.45
29.08.45

09.45
24.01.46
10.04.46
01.05.46
01.05.46

23 07.46
11.46 05.
11.46
20.12.46
01.47
31.01.47
15.02.47
02.50
09.50
25.02.52
07.56
27.07.56
1957

14.01.57
14.02.57
22.07.58
30.10.60
​24.07.61

12.66 
05.01.68 
30.06.68 
04.08.69 
1972
1972
1972
No7 Armament Training Camp (ATC) formed in 25 Group (Seal)
No7 ATC
redesignated No2 ATS
No2 Air Observation School (AOS) formed from No7 ATS (Overstrand, Seals)
No2 AOS moved on to Warmwell to become No10 AOS
152 Sqn
reformed at Acklington. (Gladiator 11’s)
152 Sqn become operational
609 Sqn moved in from Catterick. (Spitfire 1’s)
607 Sqn moved in from Usworth (Gladiator 1 &11)
609 Sqn moved out to Drem
111 Sqn moved in from Hornchurch (Hurricane 1)
607 Sqn moved out to Merville, France
43 Sqn moved in from Tangmere (Hurricane 1)
111 Sqn moved out to Drem
46 Sqn moved in from Digby (Hurricane 1)
152 Sqn conversion to Spitfire 1 aircraft
46 Sqn moved back to Digby
43 Sqn moved out to Wick
72 Sqn moved in from Church Fenton (Spitfire 1)
​
72 Sqn moved on to Gravesend 
72 Sqn returned to field
152 Sqn moved out to Warmwell
79 Sqn moved in from Sealand (Hurricane 1)
32 Sqn moved in from Biggin Hill (Hurricane 1)
79 Sqn moved on to Biggin Hill
72 Sqn moved out to Biggin Hill
610 Sqn moved in from Biggin Hill (Spitfire 1)
32 Sqn moved on to Middle Wallop
72 Sqn returned to Acklington
610 Sqn moved on to Westhampnett
258 Sqn moved in from Drem (Hurricane 1)
315 Sqn formed at Acklington (Hurricane 1)
258 Sqn moved on to Jurby
317 Sqn formed as a Polish fighter Squadron at Acklington (Hurricane 1)
315 Sqn moved on to Speke
317 Sqn moved on to Ouston
141 Sqn detachment from Ayr moved in (Defiant 1)
74 Sqn moved in from Gravesend (Spitfire 11)
406 Sqn formed as the first RCAF night fighter squadron (Blenheim 1F)
410 Sqn detatchment from Ayr moved in (Defiant 1) (3rd RCAF night fighter squadron)
72 Sqn moved out Gravesend (Spitfire VB & VC)
No13 Group Target Towing (TT) Flight formed (Lysander)
410 Sqn detatchment changes from main base at Ayr to Drem
​
141 Sqn detatchment move back to Ayr
74 Sqn moved out to Llanbedr 
No1490 Flight (Target Towing) formed from No13 Group TTF (Lysander , Henley)
No1460 Flt. Turbinlite Flight formed (Havoc, Boston)
141 Sqn moved in from Ayr
406 Sqn moved on to Ayr
No1490 Flight redesignated No1490 (Fighter) Gunnery Flight
167 Sqn moved in from Scorton (Spitfire VC)
410 Sqn detatchment ends
167 Sqn moved on to Castletown
141 Sqn move on to Tangmere
219 Sqn moved in from Tangmere (Beaufighter 1)
1 Sqn moved in from Tangmere (Typhoon 1B)
410 Sqn return to field for night fighter cover from Scorton (Beaufighter 11F)
539 Sqn formed from 1460 Flight
​No1490 Flight moved out to Ouston
219 Sqn moved on to Scorton
539 Sqn disbanded
1 Sqn moved on to Biggin Hill
198 Sqn moved in from Ouston (Typhoon 1a & 1b)
410 Sqn move on to Coleby Grange
409 Sqn RCAF move in from Coleby Grange (Beaufighter V1F)
No6 AAPC redesignated No1630 Flight
350 Sqn moved in from Fairlop (Spitfire VB)
198 Sqn moved on to Manston
No6 Anti Aircraft Practice Camp formed in 72 Group (Lysander)
350 Sqn moved on to Ouston
63 Sqn detachment from Dalcross (Mustang 1)
63 Sqn detachment moved on to Turnhouse
​350 Sqn moved back from Ouston
349 Sqn moved in from Wellingore (Spitfire VB)
350 Sqn moved on to Digby
316 Sqn moved in from Northolt (Spitfire VB)
349 Sqn moved on to Friston
No 3 Aircraft Delivery Flight (ADF) moved in from Catterick
No 3 ADF disbanded
130 Sqn moved in from Scorton (Spitfire VB)
No 4 Aircraft Delivery Flight (ADF) moved in from Odiham
No1630 Flight absorbed into 289 Sqn
278 Sqn detachment moved in from Woolsington (Anson 1)
278 Sqn detachment moved onto Hutton Cranswick
25 Sqn moved in from Church Fenton (Mosquito V1)
409 Sqn moved away on detachment
130 Sqn move back to Scorton
25 Sqn moved on to Coltishall
409 Sqn moved back from detachment
316 Sqn moved on to Woodvale
No 147 Airfield Headquarters formed in 24 Wing, No12 Group (Auster 11)
No24 (Base) Defence Wing reformed here
56 Sqn moved in from Scorton (Typhoon 1B)
222 Sqn moved in from Catterick (Spitfire 1X)
504 Sqn detachment from Castletown (Spitfire VC)
​
409 Sqn moved on to West Malling
56 Sqn moved back to Scorton 
164 Sqn moved in from Twinwood farm (Typhoon 1B)
No 4 ADF moved on to Clifton
222 Sqn moved on to Hornchurch
322 Sqn moved in from Hawkinge (Spitfire VB)
266 Sqn moved in from Harrowbeer (Typhoon 1B)
No24 Defence Wing moved to Blakelaw, Newcastle upon Tyne
164 Sqn moved on to Thorney Island
609 Sqn moved in from Tangmere (Typhoon 1a & 1b)
266 Sqn moved on to Tangmere
609 Sqn moved out toThorney Island
322 Sqn moved on to Hartford Bridge
No 147 Airfield Headquarters moved on to Zeals
No3 Tactical Exercise Unit. ‘C’ Sqn detached to field from Honiley
No3 TEU returned to Honiley
504 Sqn detachment moved back to Castletown
Airfield closed for reconstruction
239 Sqn disbanded
North Eastern Sector Headquarters formed at Blakelaw, Newcastle. Flying from Field
Airfield reopened
59 O.T.U
re-formed here using Typhoons
289 Sqn moved in from Turnhouse (Spitfire/Vengeance)
​289
Sqn moved on to Eshott
19 Sqn moved in from Peterhead (Mustang)
59 O.T.U disbanded
140 Sqn moved in (no aircraft) ready for disbandment
19 Sqn moved on to Bradwell Bay
219 Sqn moved in from B.106 Twente (Mosquito 30) 
140 Sqn moved onto Fersfield for disbanding
263 Sqn formed. Meteor F3 aircraft became the first jet squadron at Acklington
263 Sqn moved out to Church Fenton
130 Sqn moved in from Chaterhall (Spitfire 1X)
North Eastern Sector Headquarters disbanded
Armament Practice Station formed. (ex 2APS Spilsby) in 12 Group
​
219 Sqn moved on to Wittering
130 Sqn moved on to Odiham
Fighter Armament Trials Unit formed out of 2 APC
56 Sqn moved in from Boxted (Meteor F3)
56 Sqn moved on to Wattisham
91 Sqn moved in from Debden (Meteor F4)
91 Sqn re-numbered 92 Sqn
92 Sqn moved on to Duxford
264 Sqn moved in from Church Fenton (Mosquito NF36)
264 Sqn moved back to Church Fenton
Armament Practice Station (APS) moved into 81 Group
Fighter Armament Trials Unit disbanded
APS disbanded
202 Sqn (Various Flights) move in to cover search and Rescue roll (Whirlwind)
29 Sqn moved in from Tangmere (Meteor NF 11)
66 Sqn moved in from Linton-on-Ouse (Hunter F6)
29 Sqn moved on to Leuchars
66 Sqn disbanded
No6 Flying Training School (FTS) moved in to convert to Jet Provosts.
No6 FTS redesignated No6 (Advanced) FTS 
18 Sqn moved in from Guterslosh (Wessex HC 2) 
No6 (Advanced) FTS disbanded 
18 Sqn moved on to Odiham 
202 Sqn ‘B’ Flight detatchment (Air Sea Rescue) leaves airfield. Last operational sorties. 
Airfield put under Care & Maintenance 
Airfield Closed. Site cleared and open cast mined. Technical site now part of Acklington YOI - incorporating the ‘C’ type hangar
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UK Airfields (previously known as 'Airfields & Aviation Memorials').
Copyright © 1977 - 2025.
All photos taken by Richard E Flagg unless stated otherwise.
No images or content may be reproduced without prior written permission.

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