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  #1  
Old 07-01-2011, 02:56 AM
brownknees brownknees is offline
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Default RAF Acklington

Does anyone have photos of the Battle of Britain open days in the 1940s?I went as a schoolboyc 1948 on wards but didnt have a camera then!!
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  #2  
Old 11-02-2011, 03:59 PM
rickt rickt is offline
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Have a look at this page :

http://www.neaviationresearch.org.uk.../BoBatHome.htm

in relation to the BOB open days , but clicking on the Home Page will lead you to the site with lots of information and pictures that may be of interest .

I remember going to one of the open days in the early 60's as a kid as I had a relative who worked there .Just a distant memory now !
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  #3  
Old 10-12-2011, 03:59 PM
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There is also a book by Elizabeth Stewart "R.A.F. Acklington" published 2002, a good number of photos in there including the open days.

Not sure where you could get a copy now.

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  #4  
Old 10-12-2011, 07:09 PM
williamtheyounger williamtheyounger is offline
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Default Acklington RAF Station

You can purchase this book at localbookshelf.co.uk the cost is £8.50p which includes post and package
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  #5  
Old 06-03-2012, 09:32 PM
williamtheyounger williamtheyounger is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brownknees View Post
Does anyone have photos of the Battle of Britain open days in the 1940s?I went as a schoolboyc 1948 on wards but didnt have a camera then!!
I also remember the open days at the RAF station, it was a short walk up the railway line to get there from north broomhill. I also remember that the RAF had quarters at Druridge Bay, where there were three old world war tanks just in front of the links, which were sometimes used for target practice by the jets at Acklington. They also used floating targets in the sea, where I used to watch them practicing. (was not supposed to be there as the red flag was flying, but I had got there before the flags were raised and I fell asleep on the links). The jets also used targets trailing behind another jet, sometimes they would break the tow rope, and the target would fall to earth. A lot of us would rush to retrieve it, as we took it back to Acklington and got paid.
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Old 30-12-2012, 09:50 PM
Graeme Graeme is offline
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Various photos taken at RAF Acklington (but not by me):

92 Sqdn at the Armament Practice Camp (APC), Acklington, the year before the unit swapped its Gloster Meteor F.8s (two pictured) for the Canadair Sabre F.4:

http://www.92sqdn.brushhouse.co.uk/crew/crew08.html

46 Sqdn at the APC Acklington sometime between March 1955 and June 1956 (when W/Cdr Birchfield was CO of the squadron) - the aircraft barely visible in the background is a Gloster Javelin FAW.1 all-weather fighter. The unit was based at RAF Odiham, Hampshire at this time but had been detached to Acklington for air-to-air firing practice - presumably at the Druridge Bay ranges:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jav_APC.jpg

A thread about the Hurricane and Spitfire "gate guardians" at RAF Acklington in 1965:

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=54230

A thread on the Airfield Information Exchange forum about Acklington - a few pictures taken of the surviving buildings and open cast mining equipment in the mid-1970s:

http://www.airfieldinformationexchan...230-Acklington

And last one for now, a description of two of the pill boxes between the airfield site and Broomhill - the one with the gun mount on top is somewhat unusual but not totally uncommon:

http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main...ad.php?t=21630

Graeme
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  #7  
Old 23-03-2013, 11:58 AM
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Graeme you still about?

I'm working on the Acklington Station record book for WW2. there's a description reoccurring for aircraft crew members in hand-written text that looks like 'Operator'

Is this correct? or am I mis-reading it?

here's a section below regarding a crash off Seahouses on the 23rd Jan 1943:
interpreted by me as:

23rd
While carrying out an authorised low flying exercise in the region of Seahouses an aircraft of No. 410 Squadron R.C.A.F Mosquito II No. H.J.919
was seen to nose-dive into the sea about 1m off the Seahouses Coastguard Station at approx. 1500 hrs.
The position of of impact was located by debris, and diving operations commenced. The crew Sgt. G.G.Mills (Pilot) and Sgt. M. Lipton (Operator)
having been reported 'missing believed killed'. Proceedings of a formal investigation having been passed to higher Authority.



here's the actual handwriting with that word highlighted:
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File Type: jpg 23.1.43.jpg (40.5 KB, 27 views)
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Old 23-03-2013, 12:05 PM
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I'm struggling with some of this handwriting - 'Acklington Scrawl' I've called it.
and there's 'only' 230 pages of it for 1943

I set 'her indoors' off with 1939-1942: we're going to meet on the 1st January 1943.

(I think she got the short straw but I'm keeping my head down and saying nowt.)
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  #9  
Old 23-03-2013, 01:17 PM
Alan J. Alan J. is offline
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Default Air crash Seahouses.

Would this not be the wireless operator in a two man aircraft.
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  #10  
Old 23-04-2013, 06:38 PM
Graeme Graeme is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Coquet View Post
Graeme you still about?

I'm working on the Acklington Station record book for WW2. there's a description reoccurring for aircraft crew members in hand-written text that looks like 'Operator'

Is this correct? or am I mis-reading it?

here's a section below regarding a crash off Seahouses on the 23rd Jan 1943:
interpreted by me as:

23rd
While carrying out an authorised low flying exercise in the region of Seahouses an aircraft of No. 410 Squadron R.C.A.F Mosquito II No. H.J.919
was seen to nose-dive into the sea about 1m off the Seahouses Coastguard Station at approx. 1500 hrs.
The position of of impact was located by debris, and diving operations commenced. The crew Sgt. G.G.Mills (Pilot) and Sgt. M. Lipton (Operator)
having been reported 'missing believed killed'. Proceedings of a formal investigation having been passed to higher Authority.



here's the actual handwriting with that word highlighted:
Sorry, haven't been around for a while due to domestic things getting in the way!

Pilot was Flight Sgt Garth Gibson MILLS (R113366), RCAF - his radio operator was Sgt Mark LUPTON (1456999), RAFVR - and is listed as an "Observer". Possibly the writer was a new posting and was not used to the official terminology of the time, or had his own style of writing: he has written the aircraft's serial down as H.J.919 but it would have been painted as HJ919 on the fuselage and most of officialdom used the latter format in written reports anyway. Lupton was a radar/radio operator first and foremost, as HJ919 was a Mosquito NF.II - the night-fighter version of the Mk.II, fitted with Airborne Intercept radar.

The official investigation into the crash apparently mentions the aircraft stalling in mid-air whilst performing a tight turn during a low flying mission. A small piece of exhaust was found in May 1996 near the Coast Guard Station.

You might be interested in the following regarding the post-crash search:

File: AIR27/1614
"Wreckage located 2 miles south east of Seahouses by ASR Defiant of No.281 Sqdn. Sgt L Fisher (Sgt Scharf, Air Gunner) were called out to search for a Mosquito from No.410 Sqdn Acklington which had crashed into the sea. They located pieces of wreckage 2 miles SE of Seahouses but there were no survivors.

From diary of Brass Hat (harbour clearance) diver Ken Lucas

26th January
Left for Seahouses for Mosquito. Stayed at Alnwick for the night.

27th January
Arrived Seahouses. Dived for plane. Abandoned. Could not be found."

It wasn't a great month for the Canadians at Acklington - 410 ("Cougar") Sqdn lost another Mosquito NF.II three days later when DZ246 overshot on landing, only just missing the control tower but then crashing into a dispersal hut. The aircraft was wrecked but the only injury was cuts and bruises received by a startled occupant of the hut. Don't have the crew's names.

Graeme
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  #11  
Old 28-04-2013, 10:48 AM
Pablo Pablo is offline
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Default R.A.F. Acklington

Hello All,

I am a new member to the forum,I stumbled across it whilst trying to find out some information regarding the Second World War and R.A.F. Acklington.
As a keen collector/researcher of WW2 aviation I recently purchased a gem of a find,an actual R.A.F. Ensign that once flew at Acklington.It was presented to "The Ploo" (Plough) Pub in 1942,I believe the Pub is no longer trading?.It is a great find,not only regarding local history but also because my Grandfather and Grandmother were R.A.F. groundcrew at Acklington during WW2.
The Ensign came in an R.A.F. "valve" box and has a printed label,see included photo`s.Also included in the box is a section of a German Kriegsflagge,I was told that aircraft from Acklington attacked a German ship and disabled it,allowing the Royal Navy to capture the ship.The section of flag is alledged to have been handed over to Acklington as a trophy.
This is the info that I am looking for,I noticed that "Coquet" has copies of the War Diaries for Acklington so I would be very grateful if during your research you could pass on any details of an incident involving aircraft from Acklington attacking a German ship,or reference made to the trophy flag.
The Ensign is currently being framed so the pictures were taken as a before and,when completed,after.It does not normally hang over the bannister!I hope that you find this of interest,the Ensign was destined to be sold to a buyer "down south" until my intervention.

Kind Regards

Paul.010.jpg

001.jpg

012.jpg

005.jpg

006.jpg
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  #12  
Old 09-06-2013, 06:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Graeme View Post
Sorry, haven't been around for a while due to domestic things getting in the way!

Pilot was Flight Sgt Garth Gibson MILLS (R113366), RCAF - his radio operator was Sgt Mark LUPTON (1456999), RAFVR - and is listed as an "Observer". Possibly the writer was a new posting and was not used to the official terminology of the time, or had his own style of writing: he has written the aircraft's serial down as H.J.919 but it would have been painted as HJ919 on the fuselage and most of officialdom used the latter format in written reports anyway. Lupton was a radar/radio operator first and foremost, as HJ919 was a Mosquito NF.II - the night-fighter version of the Mk.II, fitted with Airborne Intercept radar.

The official investigation into the crash apparently mentions the aircraft stalling in mid-air whilst performing a tight turn during a low flying mission. A small piece of exhaust was found in May 1996 near the Coast Guard Station.

You might be interested in the following regarding the post-crash search:

File: AIR27/1614
"Wreckage located 2 miles south east of Seahouses by ASR Defiant of No.281 Sqdn. Sgt L Fisher (Sgt Scharf, Air Gunner) were called out to search for a Mosquito from No.410 Sqdn Acklington which had crashed into the sea. They located pieces of wreckage 2 miles SE of Seahouses but there were no survivors.

From diary of Brass Hat (harbour clearance) diver Ken Lucas

26th January
Left for Seahouses for Mosquito. Stayed at Alnwick for the night.

27th January
Arrived Seahouses. Dived for plane. Abandoned. Could not be found."

It wasn't a great month for the Canadians at Acklington - 410 ("Cougar") Sqdn lost another Mosquito NF.II three days later when DZ246 overshot on landing, only just missing the control tower but then crashing into a dispersal hut. The aircraft was wrecked but the only injury was cuts and bruises received by a startled occupant of the hut. Don't have the crew's names.

Graeme


Was in Bamburgh Castle today. That aviation museum is getting quite a superb collection of artifacts, most impressed.

This is the only remnant of HJ919 I noticed. About 16 inches of exhaust manifold, found on the rocks.
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File Type: jpg exhaust_manifold_hj919_1943_seahouses.jpg (54.7 KB, 22 views)
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  #13  
Old 24-05-2013, 03:48 PM
leslie leslie is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brownknees View Post
Does anyone have photos of the Battle of Britain open days in the 1940s?I went as a schoolboyc 1948 on wards but didnt have a camera then!!

Last Battle of Britain day 1967 i was there
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File Type: jpg Last Battle of Britain Airshow.jpg (112.4 KB, 65 views)
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  #14  
Old 09-06-2013, 07:00 PM
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Default Battle of Britain day 1967 Acklington

Quote:
Originally Posted by leslie View Post
Last Battle of Britain day 1967 i was there

That's quite a picture. Obviously an important and popular event. I used to go to the open days/shows as a kid but can't remember anything.
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  #15  
Old 09-06-2013, 07:13 PM
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Probably a question for Graeme; 'No 6 Anti Aircraft Practice Camp' [No 6 AAPC] Gets quite a few mentions in the Acklington WW2 Record book.
Would you know where this was located? As it is being established the book states that they requisitioned land at Hauxley for it, so it must have been further south than their existing land at Druridge?
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Old 10-06-2013, 08:10 PM
leslie leslie is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Coquet View Post
Probably a question for Graeme; 'No 6 Anti Aircraft Practice Camp' [No 6 AAPC] Gets quite a few mentions in the Acklington WW2 Record book.
Would you know where this was located? As it is being established the book states that they requisitioned land at Hauxley for it, so it must have been further south than their existing land at Druridge?

dad told me that part of his duties was spent at an annex camp at cresswell,
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  #17  
Old 14-06-2013, 06:51 PM
Graeme Graeme is offline
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The "Target Towing Flight" of No.6 AAPC was formed at Acklington on 1st June 1943 under No.72 Group's control. It was re-designated No.1630 Flight 16 days later, and its duties were absorbed by No.289 Sqdn on 1st December 1943. The camp was disbanded on 20th November 1944. One of the Lysander TT Mk.III target tugs used by the unit has been identified as P9111: the unit also used the purpose-built Miles Martinet TT Mk.I.

To my shame, I don't actually know where the ground personnel's camp was, although Hauxley and Cresswell appear to be good candidates for sub-camps as they would have been at each end of the air firing range along Druridge Bay.

Graeme
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Old 09-05-2014, 02:12 PM
Jscott Jscott is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brownknees View Post
Does anyone have photos of the Battle of Britain open days in the 1940s?I went as a schoolboyc 1948 on wards but didnt have a camera then!!
No photos but I can remember the car that the pilots used to drive around broomhill red row and the drift in it had loads of writing all over it the only writing I can remember is don't laugh madam your daughter may be inside
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Old 09-05-2014, 02:45 PM
Pablo Pablo is offline
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Hello,
Thanks for the information,in hindsight,I should of checked the bouquets!
I realise that due to the date,1978,it would not be a C.W.G.C. headstone,I just used that as a reference.I am not very knowledgable on military headstone types.
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  #20  
Old 09-05-2014, 03:48 PM
Derilda Derilda is offline
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Wink Re: "Blue Streak - mis-guided missile"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jscott View Post
No photos but I can remember the car that the pilots used to drive around broomhill red row and the drift in it had loads of writing all over it the only writing I can remember is don't laugh madam your daughter may be inside
I have to say, "Sorry. This car you mention belonged to Mr Gordon Scott, of 22 Chibburn Avenue, Hadston." I have used the writing on the other side of that you quoted, and on the back were two hands painted, one either side of the back window and the instruction "Push Here".
The car was a Austin Seven, and the first car I ever drove - illegally - along the links from Hadston to Linkhouse.
Gordon would turn in his grave to be associated with the RAF. He did his National Service in the Royal Navy.
I have other tales about this car but will cease boring everyone.
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