RAF Acklington (1916-1975)

Royal Air Force Station Acklington, simply known as RAF Acklington, is a former Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force station located south west of Amble, Northumberland and north east of Morpeth, Northumberland.

The airfield was operational initially from 1916 being used by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) 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.

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.

The following squadrons were at some point posted or attached to RAF Acklington:

Battle of Britain

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

October 1940–1945

The following squadrons were at some point posted or attached to RAF Acklington:

Postwar use

The following squadron were at some point posted or attached to RAF Acklington:

Airfield units

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

Current use

RAF Acklington closed in 1975 and was the site of Acklington and Castington prisons.

These have since been amalgamated and transferred into private ownership and are simply known as H. M. P. Northumberland.