Flying Units & Aircraft

The following list shows the squadrons and units known to have had aircraft based at RAF Ouston. The list is in chronological order, earliest first. However, there was often more than one unit based at Ouston at any time, so many of these entries overlap in date. This list is a compilation from various sources, although all of the information will have a common source in official public records, such as the "Station Operations Record Book". Nevertheless, specific acknowledgements to other publications are shown below, and the book by Martyn Chorlton has been particularly helpful for identifying the secondary flying units that used Ouston.

Individual aircraft serial numbers have been added, where known. These aircraft were almost certainly Ouston based. In contrast, for units that occasionally or regularly sent detachments to Ouston for short periods, it is difficult to identify the aircraft involved. For example 7 AACU was a massive unit with dozens of aircraft of many types, and it would be misleading to list all of their known aircraft, very few of whom would have operated at Ouston.

Additional information is still being researched.

13 Group Communications Flight - late 1940 to 15 July 1943

Before the new airfield was completed its grass areas were being used by 13 Group, headquartered in Newcastle at Blakelaw

The Flight had a variety of military and impressed civil aircraft by December 1940, and these consisted of;

- Gloster Gladiator Mk.I - three aircraft, K6132, K7980, and K8026

- Miles Magister - two aircraft, from L8059, P6402, and V1084

- Percival Vega Gull (civil, impressed ex G-AFEH), X9315; (ex G-AFAU), X9332; (ex G-AEJJ), X9455

- Percival Proctor Mk.I - P6193 , P6267

and Mk.III - Z7203, DX182, and HM432

- Percival Q.6 (civil impressed - ex G-AFMT), RAF serial X9454

- Miles Whitney Straight (civil, impressed) - serial AV970

- DH 87 Hornet Moth (civil, impressed ex G-ADKW), RAF serial W5754

By 1943 the Flight was also operating the following types at Ouston

- Airspeed Oxford Mk.I; - R6054; V3977; NM693; PH127; PH519

Mk.II - T1375

- Bristol Blenheim Mk.I - L8549

Mk.IV - N6141; T2436

- DH Dominie Mk.I - R5932; R9552; NR784; NR789

- Hawker Hurricane Mk.1 - P3929; V6728

- Miles Martinet TT Mk.I - MS928

- Miles Mentor Mk.I - L4408; L4426; L4428; and L4431

- VS Spitfire Mk.IIb - P8540 (from 26 August 1943 to 3 December 1943 when it had an accident)

- P8234 (replacement, from 20 December 1943 until retired 12 April 1945)

Mk.Vb - AD192

Mk.IX - RK803

- Westland Lysander Mk.II - N1226

No code letters were allocated

3 Radio Servicing Section - from 13 October 1940 to May 1941

Used the grass areas before the airfield was completed. This Flight was responsible for calibrating radio and radar installations in the North-East, and 3 RSS was headquartered at Hallington Hall, Northumberland

- DH 87 Hornet Moth (civil, impressed ex G-AFDF), RAF serial W9382

- Bristol Blenheim Mk.1 - L1525

Mk.IV - V5695

- Cierva C.30 Rota (Avro built autogyro, civil impressed)

No code letters were allocated

3 RSS became part of 72 (Signals) Wing on 17 February 1941 and initially the Wing's Calibration Flight was based at RAF Usworth, Sunderland, moving to Ouston in May 1941, and then to RAF Turnhouse, Edinburgh on 21 May 1941

- DH 87 Hornet Moth (civil, impressed ex G-AESE), RAF serial W5775; (ex G-AFDF), W9382; and (ex G-ADKS), RAF serial X9458

- Tiger Moth - T6768; and T5563

- Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV - V5695; V5696; V5697; V5740; Z6101

RAF Ouston officially opened 10 March 1941

Fighter Sector Headquarters in 13 Group

RAF Ouston Station Flight - April 1941 through to the 1960s. The following aircraft were used, often several examples of each type, in this order

- Gloster Gladiator Mk.I, from April 1941 - K6132; K7980; and K8026

- Tiger Moth - N6969; T6196; T6114; and T7247

- Miles Master Mk.I - N7564

Mk.II

Mk.III

- Miles Magister, P6399, P6402

- Airspeed Oxford Mk.I - V3977

Mk.II - V3819; W6561

- Curtiss Tomahawk IIb - single example, serial AK225

- VS Spitfire Vb - W3575; W3817

- Miles Master Mk.III - W8859

- Miles Martinet TT.I - HP147

- Vampire FB.5, from 1951 - VV617; WA419 'E/WAS'

- Chipmunk T.10, from 1957 - WD318; WZ870

- Meteor F.8

- Provost T.I

Role; continuation flying experience for ground based RAF pilots, pending their return to operational flying. The flight was under the control of the Station Commander, but the aircraft were usually the same as those of the main squadrons or units resident at the time.

No code letters were allocated

317 (Polish) Squadron - 29 April to 22 June 1941

- Hawker Hurricane Mk.I - V6567 'JH-Y'; V6582; V6602; V7013 'JH-L'; V7119; V7123 ' JH-Z'; V7217 (?) 'JH-W'; V7559 'JH-X'; W9183 'JH-F'; W9272 'JH-S'

Code letters 'JH' - role; day fighter defence of Tyneside and shipping

The first operational squadron at Ouston, and also the only one ever to shoot down an enemy aircraft

7 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit - detachment to Ouston from 14 May 1941 until ?

- Westland Lysander - role; training targets for AA guns

- Bristol Blenheim Mk.VI - not recorded at Ouston, but their T2351; T2436; T2438; T2440; V5500; V5623; Z5880 and Z5881 subsequently became Ouston based with 13 Group AACF (below), so probably were at Ouston with 7 AACU

Code letters - none

13 Group Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit - June to July 1941 - Also known as 13 Group Target Towing Flight

- Wesland Lysander - role; training targets for AA guns

Mk.II - P1725; P9077; P9099; P9104; P9140

Mk.III - T1589; T1636

Mk.III (TT) - R9008; T1637

Mk.IIIA - V9319; V9320; V9321

Mk.IIIA (TT) - V9852

- Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV - role; training targets for AA guns - T1864; T2351; T2438; T2440; V5500; V5623; Z5880; Z5881;

- Avro Anson Mk.1 - single example, serial R3698

- Hawker Hurricane Mk.I - N2558

No code letters allocated

This unit was re-designated 289 Squadron on 17 November 1941, and subsequently continued to send detachments to Ouston, see below

122 Squadron - 22 June to 31 August 1941

- Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ia - P9500 'MT-P'; X4898 (crashed near Ouston 26 August 1941)

Code letters 'MT' - role; day fighter defence of Tyneside and shipping

232 Squadron - Hawker Hurricane Mk.I - July to August 1941

Z7062 (crashed 30 August 1941 near Consett, Co.Durham during dummy AA attack)

Z7072 (crashed 25 October 1941 near Ouston, RCAF pilot)

Code letters 'EF' - role; day fighter defence of Tyneside and shipping

- Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIb (Trop.) - August to 11 November 1941

No squadron code letters carried, individual aircraft letters only

The following Hurricane IIb (Trop.) aircraft were delivered to Ouston, most newly built and equipped with tropical dust filters for service in North Africa, also painted in 'desert' colours. Sailing to the Middle East the squadron and its aircraft were diverted to Singapore where the Japanese invasion had started.

Z3423 to 253 Sqdn then Russia 10/41

Z3432 ex 258 and 135 Sqdns, to Russia 2/42

Z3508 ex 605 Sqdn, to Russia 11/41

Z3509 ex 605 Sqdn, to Russia 5/42

Z5309 to 253 Sqdn then Russia 10/41

Z5482 new to 232 Sqdn, crashed Java 2/42

BE115 new to 232 Sqdn, shot down Java 2/42

BE195 " " " " "

BE219 " " lost Singapore

BE577 " " " " 1/42

BE579 " " " " "

BE588 " " shot down Singapore 1/42

BE589 " " lost Singapore 1/42

BE590 " " " " "

BE633 " " crashed Singapore 1/42

BE639 " " " " "

BE641 " " " " "

BG678 " " " Java 2/42

BG693 " " shot down Java 2/42

BG720 " " lost Singapore 1/42

BG796 " " " " "

BG804 " " " " "

BG807 " " crashed " "

BG808 " " " " "

BG810 " " shot down Singapore 1/42

BG818 " " " " " "

BG820 " " crashed " "

BG828 " " " " "

BG846 " " shot down " "

BG848 " " missing " "

BG860 " " lost " "

BG864 " " crashed " "

BM899 " " ex 488 Sqdn, crashed Java 1/42

BM903 " " shot down Singapore 1/42

BM906 " " missing " "

Note; Despite the complete decimation of the squadron it should be noted that they achieved several kills, particularly against Japanese bombers, also strafing ground targets and thus helped to disrupt the Japanese invasion of Malaya and Singapore. In Java the surviving squadron personnel were absorbed into 242 Squadron and 232 ceased to exist on 25th February 1942.

131 Squadron - 30 June to 9 July 1941

- VS Spitfire Mk.Ia - N3269; P9306 'NX-M'; P9433; R6596; X4033; X4101; X4608; X4929

Code letters 'NX' - role; newly formed, training for day fighter

Half of their pilots were Belgian, forming 'B' flight

1423 (Fighter) Flight - formed out of 98 Squadron at Rejiavik, Iceland - moved to Ouston 19 December 1941 until October 1943

- Hawker Hurricane Mk.1 - Z4037; Z4045; Z4048 'D'; Z4049; Z4575; Z4607 (? reported crashed in Iceland); Z4609; Z4617; Z4631; Z4639 'K'; Z4702; Z7072

- Fairey Battle Mk.1 (not used at Ouston?)

Code letters - none - aircraft had individual letters

Role; communications and VIP escort duties for 13 Group

81 Squadron - January to 14 May 1942

- VS Spitfire Mk.Va - P9448 'FL-P'

Mk.Vb

Code letters 'FL' - role; day fighter and shipping convoy protection

This squadron remained based at RAF Turnhouse, Edinburgh and sent four detachments to Ouston during the period, the fourth detachment introducing their new Spitfire Mk.Vb

55 Operational Training Unit - Hawker Hurricane Mk.1 and Mk.X (Canadian built) - 11 April 1941 to 24 April 1942

Used Ouston as a Satellite Airfield, parent base RAF Usworth (Sunderland)

Code letters 'UW', EH', 'PA' - role; operational training for fighter pilots. The large size of this OTU meant that several code letters were allocated, including also 'ZX' for the unit's various support aircraft

242 Squadron - VS Spitfire Vb - 15 May to 1 June 1942

Code letters 'LE' - role; day fighter defence of Tyneside and shipping

A famous commander was the 'legless ace' Douglas Bader, but this was not at Ouston

243 Squadron - 1 June to 2 September 1942

- VS Spitfire Vb - EN821 'SN-M'

Code letters 'SN' - role; day fighter defence of Tyneside and shipping

Sent detachments to RAF West Hartlepool

281 Squadron - Boulton Paul Defiant - 3 April 1942 to February 1943

Mk.1 - N1613; N1753; N1804; N3481; T3912; T3929; T3944; T3951; T4036

- Supermarine Walrus - from January 1943

Mk.I - R6546

Mk.II - Z1768 'FA-B'

- Avro Anson Mk.I - from March 1943 - EG467 'FA-F'

Code letters 'FA' - role; newly formed for Air Sea Rescue

The squadron moved to RAF Woolsington on 14 June 1943

410 Squadron - BP Defiant Mk.1 - May to August 1942 - N3364; V1110 'RA-H'

- Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IIF - from July 1942

Code letters 'RA' - role; Night fighter defence of Tyneside

Crewed by Royal Canadian Air Force, detached 'A' Flight only to Ouston from main base at RAF Drem, Scotland

613 (AC) Squadron - 28 August 1942 to 1 March 1943

- North American Mustang Mk.I - AG586 'SY-K'; AP230 'E'

Code letters 'SY' - role; Army Co-operation, development of close support tactics, and offensive sweeps into Europe. Later the code letters were removed, leaving just individual aircraft letters. In 1942 the 'panda' badge of the 9th Armoured Division was also worn on the nose.

Attached to 9th Armoured Division (Northumberland), and from 1943 sent detached flights from Ouston to RAF Gatwick and RAF Odiham for offensive "Rhubarb" sweeps into occupied Europe

226 Squadron - 4 August 1942 for about a week

- Douglas Boston III - AL275 'MQ-Z'; AL679

Code letters 'MQ' - role; Bomber Command low level shipping and coastal targets

Detached to Ouston from their base at RAF Swanton Morley, Norfolk for Army Co-operation exercise "Dryshod"

1490 (Fighter Gunnery) Flight - 4 September 1942 to April 1943

- Westland Lysander Mk.II; Mk.III - T1589; T1636

Mk.IIIA (TT) - R9008; T1509; T1565; T1580; T1637; V9707; V9852

- Miles Master Mk.III - W8736; DL601; DL602

- Miles Martinet TT.Mk.I - HP147

- Hawker Henley Mk.I - L3376

Code letters, none allocated, but individual aircraft letters may have been worn

Role; air gunnery refresher training for all 13 Group squadrons and units

72 Squadron - VS Spitfire Vb - 26 September to 8 November 1942

Code letters 'RN' - role; day fighter defence of Tyneside and shipping

289 Squadron - late 1942, regular visits until 1945

- Boulton Paul Defiant TT. Mk.I and Mk.II - possibly N1569 'YE-V'; DR868; DR914 'YE-F'

- Miles Martinet TT.Mk.1

- Miles Master Mk.III

- VS Spitfire

- Vultee Vengeance TT. IV - possible examples FD335 'YE-M', and HB359 'YE-A'

- Westland Lysander Mk.II - N1226*; P9077; P9099; P9104 - these aircraft were previously Ouston based with 13 Group TTF /* 13 Group CF

Mk.IIIA - V9319; V9320; V9321 - these aircraft were previously Ouston based with 13 Group TTF

Code letters 'YE'

Role; co-operation with anti-aircraft batteries - the squadron remained based at RAF Turnhouse, Edinburgh, and sent detachments to Ouston for training exercises. The squadron also used Lockheed Hudson, Miles Master, DH Tiger Moth, Hurricane, and Airspeed Oxford aircraft, but these types are not recorded at Ouston.

291 Squadron ? - detachments only from 1943 to 1945 ?

- Hawker Henley

- Miles Martinet TT.1

- Hawker Hurricane

- Vultee Vengeance TT. 1V

Code letters - B (?)

This was an anti-aircraft co-operation squadron, supplying target aircraft for training. It was based at RAF Hutton Cranswick in Yorkshire. The book "RAF Squadrons" by Jefford states that Ouston was one of many airfields used for detached flights, but there is no other source that confirms this.

804 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm - 3 January to 3 February 1943

- Hawker Sea Hurricane IIc - BW886; JS292; JS353; NF672; NF676; NF688; NF700

Code letters 'S7' - role; embarked on Aircraft Carriers for fighter protection of convoys and offensive strikes

Presumed that their three week stay at Ouston was for an Exercise, or trials with warships off the Tyne

198 Squadron - 23 January to 9 February 1943

- Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ia - R7653

Mk.Ib (early) - DN439 'TP-E'

Code letters 'TP' - role; training for day fighter defence

Recently formed and equipping and working up for operational status

657 Squadron - Auster Mk.I and Mk.III(?) - 31 January to 1 May 1943

This was one of the newly formed squadrons with Army pilots and RAF maintenance. Their role at RAF Ouston was probably initial training in operational techniques for 'battlefield' operations with Army regiments. After leaving Ouston they re-equipped with the new Auster Mk.III version so it is unlikely that they had Mk.IIIs at Ouston. The following Mk.1 aircraft will have been used by 657 Squadron at Ouston, and of these fifteen only one was lost in an accident and fourteen survived the War to be sold on the civilian market;

LB283 - became G-AHAD, then EI-ALJ, crashed Limmerick in August 1962

LB310 - sold in 1946, probably as spares

LB317 - became HB-EUL, then F-WQVL, later F-AZTS with Lycoming engine - extant, Les Loges, France

LB324 - crashed in Suffolk 16th April 1943

LB334 - became G-AHUA, later OH-AUB, extant, stored in Finland

LB340 - became G-AHAH, crashed in Devon April 1947

LB345 - became G-AHGY, withdrawn from use Booker July 1948

LB347 - became G-AHCG, then EI-ANA in 1963, extant, stored damaged in Cambridge

LB367 - became G-AHGZ, extant and airworthy

LB369 - became G-AHHY, then VP-YPX in Rhodesia in 1958, extant, stored Enstone, Oxfordshire

LB371 - became OO-ABI in Belgian, fate unknown

LB373 - became G-AHWK, withdrawn from use in 1952 at Lulsgate, Bristol

LB376 - became G-AIRE, crashed off Spurn Head in 1966

LB378 - became G-AIXB, then VP-YNM in 1956, Rhodesia, fate unknown

LB382 - became G-AHHZ, crashed in 1950 at Snarford, Lincolnshire

Code letters none - role; Army Co-operation, spotting and observation

350 (Belgian) Squadron - 8 June to 20 July 1943

The squadron had moved to RAF Acklington to rest and undertake convoy patrols, and during this period they spent some six weeks at RAF Ouston

VS Spitfire Mk. Vb - W3261 'MN-R'; W3843 'MN-Z'; AA931 'MN-X'; AA945 ' MN-K'; AB259 'MN-V'; AB967 'MN-U'; AB989 'MN-C';

AD248 'MN- ' "Cheshire County 1"; AD294 'MN-Q' "Miss ABC III"; AD469 'MN-G'; AR366 'MN-Y'; AR393 'MN-E';

BL496 'MN-O'; BL563 'MN-U'; BL567 'MN-S'; BL907 'MN-L'; BL979 'MN-T'; BM176 'MN-F';

BM399 'MN-W' "Upper Ward of Lanarkshire"; BM428 'MN-H'; BM468 'MN-P'; EN781 'MN- '; EN860 'MN-B'

VS Spitfire Mk. Vc - EE727 'MN-H'

Notes; (i) Three of the Spitfires were 'Presentation Aircraft', paid for by public or company donations to 'Spitfire Funds'. They would have the name of their donor painted on the aircraft, normally the port side of the nose.

(ii) On the 11th July 1943 BM399, Sgt M. Grawels, and EN860, F/O R. Van de Poel, collided over the boundary of RAF Ouston, killing both pilots.

(iii) The Spitfire Vb was produced in the largest numbers of any Spitfire variant, and there were also sub-variants with different engines, fuel systems and wings. Thus the above list includes AD294 and BM399 with Merlin 46 engines and different exhausts; AR366 and BL907 had clipped wings for low altitude fighting, plus provision for long range tanks; AR393 and BL567 were short range versions (although what this means is not too obvious).

(iv) BL563 has another connection to RAF Ouston, as it had previously in 1942 served with 317 (Polish) Squadron as 'JH-M' flown by F/O Tadeusz Koc who achieved at least three 'kills' in this aircraft (not at Ouston). He was one of the original 317 Sqdn pilots at Ouston, as illustrated on the page Ouston's only wartime 'kill'

(v) W3261 crash landed at Brunton on 3rd September 1943 while operating back at RAF Acklington.

(vi) Despite published reports saying that 350 Squadron operated the newer Spitfire Vc version at Ouston, the only example found during this period at Ouston is EE727, with all the rest being Spitfire Vb versions. EE727 soon moved on to join 453 (Australian) Squadron, coded 'FU-?' (yes, the code was a question mark) at RAF Perranporth where it suffered a fatal crash on 13th September 1943.

Code letters 'MN' - role; day fighter defence of Tyneside and shipping

Entirely Belgian pilots, and the last operational wartime squadron to base at Ouston

Credit for this detailed information is the 350 Squadron website at http://www.350sqn.be/diary.html

62 Operational Training Unit - June 1943 to April 1945

- Avro Anson - June 1943 to January 1945

Mk.I and Mk.I (A.I.)* where known - L7945; R3344; R9650; R9718; R9763; R9804; AX357; DJ528* '45'; EF866; LT282; LT342; LT344; LT523; LV227; MH235; NK235; NK284; NK558; NK616 [note; available records do not show which Ansons were converted to carry Airbourne Interception radar, but two thirds of them at Ouston were A.I. equipped. The other third were normal Ansons which flew as targets.]

- Vickers Wellington - January to April 1945

T.Mk.XVII - MP529 [The Mk.17 version was converted on the production lines from GR.11s intended for Coastal Command. The first conversion retained the mainly white colour scheme, but there are no known photos of the rest. So is it possible that MP529 remained in Coastal Command camouflage colours when at Ouston?]

T.Mk.XVIII - NC868; ND109; ND113 '27'; ND118; ND121; ND122; ND124; ND125; ND126; PG236; PG238; PG239; PG247; PG248; PG249 '29'; PG254; PG255; PG256; PG349; PG350; PG351

Mk.X - ND110

Mk.XI - MP517; MP546 [See note above for MP529. All production Mk.11s were finished in the Coastal Command camouflage of mainly white, with grey/green on the uppermost surfaces.]

Mk.XIV - PG246 '34'

- Hawker Hurricane - January to April 1945

Mk,IIc - LD439; LF133; LF165; LF360; LF361; LF363; LF375; LF383; LF425; LF428; LF514; LF570; LF586; LF623; LF644; LF674; LF676; LF755; PG437; PG438; PG447; PG451; PG484; PG496; PG498; PG604; PZ738

Mk. IV

- Miles Magister Mk.I - single example, serial T9838

- Miles Master Mk.I - single example? - serial T8365

- Airspeed Oxford Mk.I - HN840; LX613 'G'; LX644

Mk.II - P6810; W6564; AB654

- VS Spitfire Vb - W3721

Code letters none - local two digit numbering system, and target aircraft single letter - role; training all night fighter radar operators for operational fighter squadrons

Part of Fighter Command, and their only airbourne interception radar equipped trainers. Also non-radar Ansons used as targets, and from 1945 Hurricanes

Also used RAF Woolsington from 22 November 1943 as a satellite airfield to relieve congestion at Ouston

Durham University Air Squadron - 23 March 1944 to 1945

- DH Tiger Moth (ex-civilian impressed example - G-AEWG), RAF serial X5105; (ex G-AECH), RAF serial BB864

- DH Tiger Moth Mk.II various, flown by 24 and 28 Elementary Flying Training Schools

- Airspeed Oxford Mk.1 (a single example, used briefly)

Code letters - none. 28 EFTS used two digit individual aircraft numbers

Role; initial pilot training for university graduates. The UAS moved to Woolsington at the end of the war, but moved back to Ouston in 1957

1508 (Gee Training) Flight - 26 June to 8 August 1944

- From 8 August 1944 absorbed into 62 OTU and became 'C' Flight

- Airspeed Oxford Mk.I - see 62 OTU (above) for a list of the Oxfords that may have been transferred

Code letters - none allocated, but individual aircraft letters worn

Role; intially 'beam approach' training, and then GEE training, a radio navigational aid for Bomber Command

288 Squadron ? - detachment only from 20 November 1944 - until?

- Bristol Beaufighter Mk.VI ?

- Vengeance TT. IV - possibly HB528 'RP-J' which may have been at Acklington & Ouston

Code letters - RP

The book "RAF Squadrons" by Jefford states that there was a Beaufighter equipped detachment of 288 Squadron from RAF Church Fenton in Yorkshire, to Ouston, and that the squadron used a large number of detached airfields. 288 Squadron was a target facilities squadron which mounted practice attacks on anti-aircraft units. However the official history for 288 Squadron states that the Beaufighter aircraft left the unit in November 1944, to be replaced by the Vultee Vengeance. The squadron was disbanded at RAF East Moor in June 1946. So it is possible that it did use Ouston but there are no other reports that confirm this.

770 Squadron Fleet Air Arm - 19 to 23 April 1945

- Hawker Hurricane IIc

Code letters, unknown, but may have been similar to 'B8X' plus individual aircraft letter, the numeral '8' being a constant

Role; this was a 'Fleet Requirements Unit' to give aerial gunnery training to warships, based at Drem, East Lothian, and they detached just a Flight to Ouston

80 Operational Training Unit (French) - July 1945 to March 1946

In addition to their main equipment of Spitfire Mk.IX's they used a number of other aircraft types including fourteen Miles Master (two seat advanced trainer); DH Dominie Mk.I , and Airspeed Oxford (communications); four Miles Martinet TT.Mk.I (target towing); and two Wellington Mk.10 (fighter affiliation)

- VS Spitfire Mk.IX - AB511; EN398; MH353 '3H-J'; MH388 'CM'; MH666; MH840; MH876; MH909

- Airspeed Oxford Mk.1 - PH124

- Miles Master Mk.II - AZ529; AZ582; AZ602; AZ778; AZ813; AZ828; DK804; DK956; DL832; DL861; DL862; DL892; DL960; DM110; DM201; DM218; DM389

- Miles Martinet Mk.I - HP316; MS945; MS907; MS909; PX164

- Vickers Wellington Mk.X - HZ272; NC864

Code letters '3H' - role; operational day fighter training for all French Spitfire pilots, and after leaving Ouston the Unit became part of the Armee de l'Air

Many of their aircraft were also transferred to the French Air Force, direct from Ouston in March 1946

22 Service Flying Training School - 31 May 1946 to late 1947

- North American Harvard IIb - FE866; FT258 'FCIR'; FT351; FT429; FX244; KF193; KF209 'FCIZ'; KF319 'FCJH'; KF341 'FCIY'; KF411; KF428; KF911 'FCIT'; KF919; KF953 'FCIS'; KF982

- DH Tiger Moth II - DE175 'FCKX'

- Avro Anson Mk.I - NK956 'FCJF'

Code letters 'FCI' , 'FCJ', 'FCK'- role; Advanced pilot training and the large size of this unit meant that several code letters were allocated.

Also used a number of other aircraft types including the Tiger Moth II, and Anson I shown above.

Included courses run for Dutch Navy pilots. Later renamed 22 FTS, which eventually became 1 FTS which is still extant.

607 (County of Durham) Squadron - VS Spitfire Mk.14 - 10 May 1946 to 1948

Mk.XIVc - NH639; NH658 'RAN-F'; NH707

FR.14e - NH792; RM470 'RAN-G'; RM745; RM792; RM810; RM817; RM919; SM928 'RAN-E'; TP236; TZ116 'RAN-D'; TZ178

- VS Spitfire LF.16e - 1948 - SM352; TE184 'LA-A'

- VS Spitfire F.22 - 1947 to 1951 - PK334 'RAN-M' and 'LA-M'; PK335 'RAN-J'; PK384 'RAN-F' and 'LA-F'; PK393 'LA-D'; PK423 'LA-R'; PK498; PK491; PK501; PK523 'LA-E'; PK552 'RAN-K'; PK553 'RAN-K' and 'RAN-4'; PK556 'LA-O'; PK557 'RAN-G' and 'LA-G'; PK582 'RAN-E'; PK602 'LA-O'; PK603 'RAN-Q' and 'LA-Q'; PK613 'LA-H'; PK667

- NA Harvard 2b - May 1946 to 1951 - FT288; FX280 'RAN-B'; KF193 'LA-C'; KF373 'RAN-A and 'LA-C'; KF379 'RAN-A'; KF954 'RAN-B'; KF737 'RAN-A'

- DH Vampire FB.5 - March 1951 to 10 March 1957 - VV617 'A'; VX472 'F'; VZ305 'RLS'; WA421 'LA-N'; WA419 'E'; WA429 'LA-J' and 'LA-P' [Note: VZ305 was the Wing Commander's aircraft and carried both 607 and 608 Squadron colours]

FB.9 - circa 1956-7, single example - WR266 'B'

- Gloster Meteor T.7 - 1951 to 10 March 1957 - VW439 'R'; VW489 'Q'; WF680 'U'; WF820 'U'; WF833; WF850; WH225 'N'

Code letters 'RAN' to 1949, and 'LA' to April 1951, then Stone & Mauve coloured squadron bars thereafter. In addition, the squadron's badge was occasionally applied to the nose of their Spitfire F.22's, and later to their Vampire FB.5's.

Role; Auxiliary Reserve pilots in Training Command till 1951, and Voluntary Reserve pilots in Fighter Command till 1949. The Harvards and Meteors were used for training, and the Spitfires and Vampires were operational day fighters. At least two Wing Commanders used Vampire FB.5 aircraft, and as they were also in charge of 608 (North Riding) Squadron at RAF Thornaby-on-Tees, their Vampires were painted with both squadron's coloured bars, 607 on the port side, and 608 on the starboard.

27 Gliding School - June 1948 to 1950

- Slingsby Cadet TX.I; TX.2; and TX.3

- Slingsby Sedbergh TX.I

Code letters, none. Role; initial gliding experience and training for Cadets

Formed in October 1943 at Woolsington, moving to Ouston in June 1948. By November 1951 it was at RAF Usworth (Sunderland), where it was disbanded 1st September 1955 and merged with 31 GS (also at RAF Usworth) to become 641 Gliding School at Ouston.

1965 Flight of 664 Squadron - Auster AOP.5 and AOP.6 - 1949 to 1954

Code letters 'ROD' - Sept 1949 until April 1951

none - April 1951 onwards

Role; Army air observation posts

1965 Flight was one of four parts of 664 Squadron, headquartered at RAF Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. All the pilots were Army, with the aircraft maintained by the RAF

173 Squadron ? - Varsity T.1 sometime between 1953 - 1957 ?

In 1953 No.4 Ferry Unit was renamed 173 Squadron, a communications squadron based at RAF Hawarden, Cheshire. The book "Aircraft of the Royal Air Force" by Owen Thetford, Guild Publishing 1988, states that 173 Squadron and the Varsity T.1 were based at RAF Ouston, dates not given. No other published history of 173 Squadron gives any other base than RAF Hawarden. The Varsity T.1 in question is identified as WJ919.

641 Gliding School - Slingsby Cadet TX.3 - 1 September 1955 to 1974

- Slingsby Sedburgh TX.1 - 1955 to 1974

- Slingsby Prefect TX.1 - circa 1962

No badge allocated - role; initial gliding instruction up to 'A' and 'B' Certificates for Air Training Corps Cadets aged over 16

Also utilised the Ouston Station Flight Chipmunk T.10 which was equipped for aerial tows of gliders. However most Cadet gliding was winch launched.

641 GS was formed in 1955 by merging 27 GS with 31 GS, both then at RAF Usworth (Sunderland)

13 Group Communications Flight - 1 November 1955 to 1 January 1961 when it was re-designated 11 Group Communications Flight

- Avro Anson

Mk.XI - PH672

C.19 - TX224; TX229; VM365;

T.21 - VV294; VV300; WB451 [Note; although built as T.21 trainers, these may have been converted to C.21]

C.21 - VS586; VV246

- Gloster Meteor

T.7 - VW423; VW488; VZ637 'A'; WA697; WH112; WL419

F.8- WE876; WK991

NF.14 - WS775 'V'; WS781

- DH Devon C.I - VP974

- DH Chipmunk T.I0 - WB680; WG465; WP920

Code letters, none, but group badge sometimes applied

Role; support, transport, and refresher training for Group headquarters at Blakelaw, Newcastle

2 Civilian Fighter Control Co-operation Unit - 8 March 1957 (or 15 October 1957?) to 31 January 1961

- Avro Anson T.21 (single example?) - VV901

Code letters - none. Role; training for fighter controls

Formed at RAF Usworth (Sunderland) before moving soon after to Ouston, where it disbanded in 1961.

Durham University Air Squadron - DHC Chipmunk T.10 - 1957 to 1963

Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron - DHC Chipmunk T.10 - 1 August 1963 to 1974

Code letters 'RUD' - 1949 to April 1951

none - April 1951 to September 1974

The Durham University crest 'white cross on a blue ground' was used as a badge - displayed on the nose of the DUAS Chipmunks, and later as a badge on the fin of NUAS Chipmunks

Role; initial pilot training for university graduates who enrolled in the RAF Reserve which was part of Flying Training Command

The UAS was based at RAF Usworth (Sunderland) until 1957 when it moved to Ouston. However it also used Ouston as a satellite airfield prior to 1957

Other aircraft types were used, particularly in the earlier days at Usworth, including Anson T.21 navigation trainers; Harvard IIb; Prentice T.1; and Balliol T.2 WG220; WN138

11 Air Experience Flight - DHC Chipmunk T.10 - 8 September 1958 to 1974

No badge allocated - role; Air Experience flights for Air Training Corps cadets aged 13 to 18

Also used the DUAS/NUAS Chipmunks, in conjunction with their own three aircraft

11 Group Communications Flight - from 1 January 1961 to 25 September 1961, by re-designating 13 Group Communication Flight at Ouston

- Avro Anson C.19 - TX184; TX193; TX224; VM334; VM365; VM367; VP519

C.21 - VS586; WB453 [originally a T.21, presumed converted to C.21]

- DH Devon C.1 - VP953; VP974

- DH Chipmunk T.10 - WG465; WZ856; WZ883

Role; support for 11 (Fighter) Group Headquarters. Disbanded 31 March 1963 at RAF Leconfield, Yorkshire

6 Flying Training School - Provost T.1 - 4 August 1961 to 1963

- Jet Provost T.3 and T.4 - 1962 to 30 June 1968

The Provost T.1's wore one of four letters that signified 6 FTS, namely 'M', 'N', 'O' or 'P', followed by an individual aircraft letter.

The Jet Provosts wore a single or two digit number on the side of the engine intakes, and on the fin. The position on the intake sides being unique to 6 FTS

Role; initial and intermediate pilot training. 6 FTS was based at nearby RAF Acklington, and Ouston was their satellite airfield, used to relieve the pressure of circuit flying at Acklington; this involved daily use of Ouston, with trainee pilots and aircraft often being based at Ouston.

4 Mobile Glider Servicing Unit - 1st March 1962 to 27 September 1974 (?)

This was not a flying unit with its own aircraft, but it was based at Ouston to carry out the important function of visiting all of the northern locations where Air Training Corps gliders were based, to carry out regular maintenance and repairs. The types serviced included the Slingsby Cadet TX.3; the Slingsby Sedbergh TX.1; and the Slingsby Prefect TX.1, including Ouston's own gliders.

The unit moved to Ouston from RAF Church Fenton in 1962, and is assumed to have moved to RAF Leeming when Ouston closed in 1974.

202 Squadron ? - Whirlwind HAR.10 - August 1964 to 1975 ?

- Search and Rescue 'yellow' helicopters

The book "RAF Squadrons" by Jefford states that 202 Squadron, headquartered at RAF Leconfield in Yorkshire, had detached flights along the eastern coast including at RAF Ouston, but no dates given. There certainly was a detached flight at RAF Acklington from August 1964 until 1975, when the flight relocated to RAF Boulmer. The published history of RAF Acklington [Malcolm Fife, 2017] includes a comprehensive chapter on 202 Squadron's activities , but there is no break in the dates given at Acklington. So it seems that a 202 Squadron detachment was never based at Ouston, although their yellow Rescue helicopters were frequent visitors, including in November 1965 when Ouston was cut off by snow and food supplies and a doctor were flown in. [Fife] Also Ouston was the satellite airfield of Acklington, so in the event of bad weather or other operational problems, Ouston would be the planned alternative, thus appearing in the list of 'detached flight locations' for 202 Squadron.

North East Regional Airport

For 6 months during the winter of 1965-66 Ouston became Newcastle's Airport while the single runway at Woolsington was being re-built. The airliners and business aircraft normally based at Woolsington transferred to Ouston, although not, apparently, including the small private and club aircraft. Also it seems that the gliders of 641 Gliding School re-located to RAF Acklington for the duration, but other normal RAF flying continued.

These airlines re-located to Ouston;

BKS Air Transport - Airspeed Ambassador 2; Bristol Britannia 102 - scheduled flights to Belfast, Amsterdam and London

Dan-Air London Ltd - Douglas Dakota 4 - scheduled flights

Gregory Air Services - Douglas Dakota 4 - ad-hoc charter flights

The business, air taxi, and company aircraft included;

Clarke Chapman & Co.Ltd - DH Dove 6

National Coal Board - DH Dove 8

C.A.Parsons Ltd - DH Dove 2

Gregory Air Services - PA-30 Twin Commanche

There were also other scheduled and charter flights, with regular schedules being flown by British United, and Aer Lingus, but these airliners were not based at Ouston.

RAF Ouston closed on 31 December 1974

The whole site was transferred to the Army as Albemarle Barracks. The airfield was no longer maintained for flying, but nevertheless Army helicopters have been fairly regular visitors, utilising the former main apron areas as helipads.

Helicopter types known to have used Ouston since 1974 include the Westland Gazelle AH.1, Westland Lynx AH.7, and Apache AH.I. Also RAF Chinook helicopters have used Ouston for at least one exercise.

Update - the author has recently (in 2021) 're-found' his copies of the "Air North" monthly newsletter from the 1983 - 1984 period. This is an excellent and detailed publication for members of this aviation enthusiasts and spotting group, still thriving to date. The monthly newsletters contain infrequent reports for aircraft movements to/from Albemarle Barracks (Ouston), and shows that the former airfield was still accepting visiting RAF aircraft in 1984, some 10 years after it officially closed. These are some aircraft movements recorded during this 1983 - 84 period;

11th May 1984 - Army Gazelle AH.1 helicopter, radio call-sign 'AA354'

19th June 1984 - Army Gazelle AH.1 helicopter, radio call-sign 'AA352', departed to Topcliffe, Yorks the following day

later same day - RAF Andover CC.2, XS790, of the Queen's Flight, with Princess Anne to visit the Albemarle Barracks

19th July 1984 - Army Gazelle AH.1 helicopter, radio call-sign 'AA352'

21st July 1984 - RAF Hercules C.1P, XV179, radio call-sign 'HWE43'

30th October 1984 - Army Gazelle AH.1 helicopter, radio call-sign 'AA454', departed soon after to (assumed) Otterburn

It was no small undertaking for a member of the Royal Family to arrive by air. There would have been runway inspections beforehand, probably with minor repairs and surface sweeping. At least two large fire engines would have been brought in by road, and one or two air traffic control staff, plus a radio technician. It is perhaps unlikely that the runway lighting and approach aids were still operational, so such a flight could only have taken place in good daylight weather conditions. However it was organised, it seems obvious that the airfield was still in good condition, otherwise the Queen's Flight Andover would have landed at nearby Newcastle Airport, with the transfer to Ouston being by Queen's Flight helicopter, or by road.

A month later the Hercules transport arrived for some reason. The Hercules was capable of operating from 'rough airstrips', and indeed the crews would seek to practise doing so as part of their essential training. But again a basic safety precaution would have been to bring in fire engines, and perhaps an air traffic controller to convey basic information such as wind speed and direction, plus the temperature.

So in 1984 Ouston airfield was still being used by large fixed wing aircraft.

Here is a photo taken in October 1993 of the same Hercules C.1P, XV179. It had just landed on the semi-disused Jurby Airfield on the Isle of Man, to pick up Special Forces soldiers on a training exercise. The Hercules kept its engines running and took off 'downwind' to minimise time on the ground to just a few minutes. This was probably very similar to its visit to the disused Ouston airfield. All of the RAF's Hercules aircraft and squadrons were then based at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, and none of the aircraft wore squadron markings because each squadron just drew an aircraft from the 'maintenance pool' on the day. However, it is known that 47 Squadron specialised in the 'dark arts' and that they used modified Hercules equipped for night landings on basic airstrips. So it is likely that XV179 was being operated by 47 Squadron when it used Ouston in July 1984.

Acknowledgements

Air Britain; RAF Serials, a series of some twenty publications

Air North; Monthly newsletters for members of this air enthusiasts & spotting group

Flying Units of the RAF; Alan Lake; Airlife

Action Stations; No.7 Airfields of Scotland, the North-East and Northern Ireland; David J.Smith; PSL

RAF Squadrons; Wing Commander C.G.Jefford; Airlife

Fighter Squadron of the RAF and their Aircraft; John Rawlings; Crecy

Flying Training and Support Units since 1912; Ray Sturtivant & John Hamlin; Air Britain

Airfields of North-East England in the Second World War; Martyn Chorlton; Countryside Books Aviation