RAF Woolsington
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 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.
History
RAF 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.Template:Sfn 43 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School was formed in June 1939 and was disbanded just three months later in September 1939.Template:Sfn
The base served at various times as a satellite of both RAF Acklington and RAF Ouston but saw little operational flying.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.[3]
Woolsington's main wartime role was as the base of No. 83 Maintenance Unit which salvaged crashed aircraft over much of the region.Template:Sfn After the war civil flying resumed and the airport is now known as Newcastle International Airport.Template:Sfn
Units
The following units or squadrons were based at (or used) RAF Woolsington between 1936 and 1946.[4]
- 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
References
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Bibliography
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External links
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Script error: No such module "Military navigation". Template:Royal Air Force stations in Northumberland Template:Authority control