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 (1916)
In use	1916–1920 1938–1975 (1975)
Elevation AMSL	95 ft / 29 m
Coordinates	55°17′46″N 001°38′04″W / 55.29611°N 1.63444°W / 55.29611; -1.63444Coordinates: 55°17′46″N 001°38′04″W / 55.29611°N 1.63444°W / 55.29611; -1.63444
Map
RAF Acklington Location in Northumberland
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 05/23 5,700 1,740 Asphalt 01/19 4,554 1,390 Asphalt 12/30 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.

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

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:

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

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

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

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

RAF Acklington closed in 1975 and is now the site of Acklington and Castington prisons. These have since been transferred into private ownership and are simply known as H. M. P Northumberland.