Battle of Britain at Home Day -
Acklington 20/09/1958

Credit Jim Jobe & Glen Auld. Copyright for photo's remain with Glen Auld

To commemorate the Battle of Britain thirty five airfields were opened to the public in late September 1958. Along with Ackington, the airfields at Abingdon, Aldergrove, Andover, Bassingbourn, Benson, Biggin Hill, Binbrook, Chivenor, Church Fenton, Colerne, Cosford, Cottesmore, Gaydon, Halton, Honnington, Horsham St. Faith, Jurby,  Leeming, Leuchars, Lindholme,  Marham, Norton, St. Athan, St. Eval, Syerston, Tern Hill, Thorney Island, Turnhouse, Upwood, Valley, Waddington, Waterbeach, Wattisham & Weeton all opened their gates.

During this period the base was within Fighter Command, 66Sqn being the resident unit with their Hunter F.6 aircraft. Air & Sea rescue was provided by 275Sqn who had a detachment here with Sycamore HR.14 helicopters.

Serial Code Type Unit Comments
G-AJEH   J/1 Autocrat Newcastle Aero Club  
G-AJRH   J/1 Alpha Newcastle Aero Club  
TA633 E Mosquito TT.35 3CAACU Exeter On static display

Mosquito TT.35 (TA633) of 3CAACU Exeter in the Ackilngton static display                                                                             (Glen Auld)
TX171   Anson C.XIX Acklington SF On static display

Anson C.XIX (TX171) in the Ackilngton static display                                                                                                                (Glen Auld)
WV913 636-LM Sea Hawk FGA.6 738Sqn RNAS Lossiemouth. Static
WW194 652-LM Sea Venom FAW.21 738Sqn RNAS Lossiemouth. Static
XA825 K Javelin FAW.6 29Sqn RAF Leuchars. Static
XH329 Vampire T.11 Acklington SF On static display. 'Biggin Hill' on nosewheel door

Vampire T.11 (XH329) Sqn unknown in the Ackilngton static display                                                                                        (Glen Auld)
WZ583 S Vampire T.11 66Sqn RAF Acklington. In hangar
WF769 Q Meteor T.7 66Sqn RAF Acklington. Static

Meteor T.7 (WF769) of the resident 66Sqn in the Ackilngton static display                                                                                (Glen Auld)
WF819   Meteor T.7 Acklington SF RAF Acklington. Static. 2APS badge on nose
WJ887 J Varsity T.1 115Sqn RAF Tangmere. Static
WV562 P-C Provost T.1 1FTS RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Static
G-AIVW   Tiger Moth Newcastle Aero Club Winner of 1958 Kings Cup Air Race
WH712   Canberra B.2 57Sqn RAF Cottesmore. Static
XG508   Sycamore HC.14 275Sqn 'A' Flight On static display

Sycamore HC.14 (XG508) of the resident 275Sqn in the Ackilngton static display                                                                     (Glen Auld)
WL419   Meteor T.7 13 Grp CF RAF Ouston
XA913   Vulcan B.1 101Sqn RAF Finningley. Flew
XD870   Valiant BK.1 148Sqn RAF Marham. White c/s. Flew
WZ362   Valiant B.1 232OCU RAF Gaydon. Silver c/s. Flew
WB837 H Shackleton T.4 MOTU RAF Kinloss. Flew. Also reported as WB858
G-AIHD   Proctor 3 Airwork Based at Ouston
XL149 X Beverley C.1 242OCU RAF Dishforth. Arrived / placed on static display

Beverley C.1 (XL149) of 242OCU brought a military band to the Ackilngton show                                                                     (Glen Auld)
WD332   Chipmunk T.10 Durham UAS RAF Ouston. Flew
WZ858   Chipmunk T.10 Durham UAS RAF Ouston. Flew
WD295   Chipmunk T.10 Durham UAS RAF Ouston. Flew
XK716   Comet C.2 216Sqn RAF Lyneham "Cepheus". Flew
WG223   Balliol T.2 HCCS RAF White Waltham. Flew
WJ895 A Varsity T.1 1ANS RAF Topcliffe. Flew
WJ905 D Varsity T.1 1ANS RAF Topcliffe. Flew
WL669 E Varsity T.1 1ANS RAF Topcliffe. Flew
WL422 X Meteor T.7 29Sqn RAF Leuchars. Static. Reported as w/o 7-Jul-58
WH670   Canberra B.2 245Sqn RAF Tangmere. grey/green/blue camo. Flew
XJ916   Sycamore HR.14 275Sqn 'A' Flight RAF Acklington
WB964   Sedburgh TX.1 641GS RAF Ouston. Flew, towed by WD295
TG513 V Hastings C.1 242OCU RAF Dishforth. Flew
WD129   Lincoln B.2 RAE West Freugh Flew
WH275 T Meteor F.8 66Sqn RAF Acklington. Static
XE617 - Hunter F.6 66Sqn  
XE544 V Hunter F.6 66Sqn On static display
XK139 G Hunter F.6 66Sqn On static display
XE519 F Hunter F.6 66Sqn In technical hangar
XG153 L Hunter F.6 66Sqn In servicing hangar
XG154 T Hunter F.6 66Sqn In servicing hangar
XE618 - Hunter F.6 66Sqn Appeared at SBAC Farnborough 1958
XG237 C Hunter F.6 66Sqn  
XG266 R Hunter F.6 66Sqn  
XG255 S Hunter F.6 66Sqn  
XG226 B Hunter F.6 66Sqn  
XE582 J Hunter F.6 66Sqn  
XG265 P Hunter F.6 66Sqn  
XG256 K Hunter F.6 66Sqn  
XG253 A Hunter F.6 66Sqn  
XG252 D Hunter F.6 66Sqn  
XJ687 H Hunter F.6 66Sqn  
XF462 - Hunter F.6 66Sqn C/O's aircraft. Sqn badge on fin instead of code (See below)

Line up of twelve 66Sqn Hunter F.6's at the Acklington Battle of Britain at home day in 1958                                                 (Glen Auld)
XA655 F
Javelin FAW.5 151Sqn RAF Leuchars. Was one of 12 Javelin's in a flypast
XA708 U Javelin FAW.5 151Sqn RAF Leuchars. Was one of 12 Javelin's in a flypast
5314   B-66B Destroyer 47BW/84BS Flyby