Royal Air Force Woolsington, or more simply RAF Woolsington, was a civilian airfield that was taken over by the RAF in 1939. It was returned to civilian use in 1946 and is now Newcastle International Airport.
RAF Woolsington | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woolsington, Tyne and Wear in England | |||||||||
  RAF Woolsington Shown within Tyne and Wear | |||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Owner | Air Ministry | ||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||||
| Controlled by | RAF Flying Training Command | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1939 | ||||||||
| In use | 1939-1945 | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Elevation | 81 metres (266 ft) AMSL | ||||||||
| |||||||||
History
editRAF Woolsington opened as a civil airport in July 1935 with a small scale military involvement from the start.[1] An airfield close to Newcastle had first been proposed by the Air Ministry in 1929 and in 1933 suitable sites were being assessed for a runway with Town Moor also being considered. The whole of the site was requisitioned by the Royal Air Force in 1939 on the outbreak of World War II,[2] however, 13 Group Communications Flight had been in existence at Woolsington for a month when war was declared.[3] 43 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School was formed in June 1939 and was disbanded just three months later in September 1939.[4]
The base served at various times as a satellite of both RAF Acklington and RAF Ouston but saw little operational flying.[5] However, on one notable occasion in 1940, a Spitfire of No. 72 Squadron RAF flying out of Woolsington actually shot down a Junkers Ju 88 at night. This was one of the few 'kills' at night attributed to Spitfires.[1]
In 1941, Durham University Air Squadron (DUAS) was formed at Woolsington initially flying Tiger Moth aircraft.[6] The unit stayed behind when all other squadrons and units were transferred out at the end of the Second World War, eventually moving on to RAF Usworth in 1949.[7]
Woolsington's main wartime role was as the base of No. 83 Maintenance Unit which salvaged crashed aircraft over much of the region.[5] After the war civil flying resumed and the airport is now known as Newcastle International Airport.[8]
Units
editThe following units or squadrons were based at (or used) RAF Woolsington between 1936 and 1946.[9]
- No. 13 Group Communication Flight RAF
- No. 27 Gliding School RAF
- No. 43 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School RAF
- No. 55 Operational Training Unit
- No. 62 Operational Training Unit
- No. 72 Squadron RAF
- No. 83 Maintenance Unit RAF
- No. 278 Squadron RAF
- No. 281 Squadron RAF
- Durham University Air Squadron
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Whaley, R; Morrison, J; Heslop, D (2008). "Archaeology of the 20th century defence sites of Tyne and Wear" (PDF). newcastle.gov.uk. 27; RAF Woolsington (Newcastle Airport): Newcastle City Council. p. 29. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Robson, Ian (21 September 2014). "Newcastle RAF Association service marks the days when Newcastle Airport was home to Spitfires". nechronicle. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ Lake 1999, p. 121.
- ^ Lake 1999, p. 60.
- ^ a b Delve 2006, p. 278.
- ^ Lake 1999, p. 37.
- ^ "RAF - NUAS History". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ Delve 2006, p. 277.
- ^ "Woolsington (Newcastle) - Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust UK". abct.org.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
Bibliography
edit- Delve, Ken (2006). The military airfields of Britain - Northern England. Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press. ISBN 1-86126-809-2.
- Lake, Alan (1999). Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.