The former Royal Air Force Station Acklington, commonly known as RAF Acklington, was a Royal Air Force

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...

 airfield airbase

Airbase

An airbase is a military airfield that provides basing and support of military aircraft....

 situated near Acklington

Acklington

Acklington is a small village in Northumberland, England. It is situated to the south-west of Amble, inland from the North Sea coast. It is served by Acklington railway station...

, in Northumberland

Northumberland

Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

.

It was an aerodrome in the Great War (WWI) and known as Royal Flying Corps Station Southfields, before being re-opened on Friday 1 April 1938 as RAF Station Acklington.
During World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 it was a fighter station, operating as part of No 13 Group.

The airfield closed in 1972 and is now the site of Acklington

Acklington (HM Prison)

HM Prison Acklington is a Category C men's prison, located near the village of Acklington a few miles from Amble), in Northumberland, England. Acklington Prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service....

 and Castington

Castington (HM Prison)

HM Prison Castington is a male juvenile's prison and Young Offenders Institution, located in the village of Acklington in Northumberland, England...

prisons.

External links

• http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/airfields/acklington.html
• http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/13group.html