RAF Acklington

Acklington in Northumberlandfirst became operational in 1916 with the RFC, becoming an RAF base when they formed in 1918. It closed two years later but was re-opened in 1938 and was operational as a Fighter Command sector field during the Battle of Britain. In February 1940 a flight of Hurricanes from Acklington shot down the first Luftwaffe aircraft to fall on English soil. The airfield remained operational post war before finally closing in 1975 after which it became the site of two prisons now known as HMP Northumberland. Last month the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust erected a memorial marker stone.