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Cramlington Aerodrome
Cramlington Aerodrome was a military airfield established in Northumberland during the First World War. It became a civil airfield serving the Tyneside area of north-east England and operated until 1935, when it was replaced by Woolsington Airport, now known as Newcastle International Airport.
In response to German Zeppelin airship raids over the industrially important Tyneside area in 1915, a flight of three Royal Flying Corps (RFC) B.E.2c fighters were based at a field near Cramlington in late November to defend against further raids. The aircraft arrived on 1 December 1915 and were housed in canvas hangars. The site was chosen as it was higher and thus less prone to fog than local coastal locations.
The British Army and Royal Navy at first debated who should operate the field, with the army winning, and on 1 February 1916 No. 36 (Home Defence) Squadron was officially formed and three hangars were built. Known as RFC Cramlington, it was the first RFC airfield in the north-east of England. Extensive wooden buildings were constructed for offices, stores and accommodation, mostly on the far side of the road that ran down the east side of the airfield, which was also bordered to the north by a railway line.
The airfield was under the control of Headquarters, Training Division, RFC, and training became a significant function. It was used by Reserve Squadrons 47, 52 and 61, as well as 75 Training Squadron, later renamed to 52 Training Depot Station.
Operations continued throughout the rest of the war, and a 70 ft (21 m) radio transmitter mast was erected to enable information and instructions to be sent to pilots from the ground. When the RFC became the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918 the airfield became RAF Cramlington.
In April 1918, the first flight of the Armstrong Whitworth F.M.4 Armadillo fighter took place at Cramlington because their normal field, at Town Moor Aerodrome in Newcastle, was surrounded by obstructions and too rough. The aircraft was not a success.
Further land was requisitioned for the construction of a larger hangar, the building of which extended into 1919. However, with the end of the war, the RAF had no further plans for the airfield, and it was reduced to Care and Maintenance status on 22 January 1920, and the RAF left completely in March.
Major units based at Cramlington (in date order)
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Cramlington Aerodrome AI simulator
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Cramlington Aerodrome
Cramlington Aerodrome was a military airfield established in Northumberland during the First World War. It became a civil airfield serving the Tyneside area of north-east England and operated until 1935, when it was replaced by Woolsington Airport, now known as Newcastle International Airport.
In response to German Zeppelin airship raids over the industrially important Tyneside area in 1915, a flight of three Royal Flying Corps (RFC) B.E.2c fighters were based at a field near Cramlington in late November to defend against further raids. The aircraft arrived on 1 December 1915 and were housed in canvas hangars. The site was chosen as it was higher and thus less prone to fog than local coastal locations.
The British Army and Royal Navy at first debated who should operate the field, with the army winning, and on 1 February 1916 No. 36 (Home Defence) Squadron was officially formed and three hangars were built. Known as RFC Cramlington, it was the first RFC airfield in the north-east of England. Extensive wooden buildings were constructed for offices, stores and accommodation, mostly on the far side of the road that ran down the east side of the airfield, which was also bordered to the north by a railway line.
The airfield was under the control of Headquarters, Training Division, RFC, and training became a significant function. It was used by Reserve Squadrons 47, 52 and 61, as well as 75 Training Squadron, later renamed to 52 Training Depot Station.
Operations continued throughout the rest of the war, and a 70 ft (21 m) radio transmitter mast was erected to enable information and instructions to be sent to pilots from the ground. When the RFC became the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918 the airfield became RAF Cramlington.
In April 1918, the first flight of the Armstrong Whitworth F.M.4 Armadillo fighter took place at Cramlington because their normal field, at Town Moor Aerodrome in Newcastle, was surrounded by obstructions and too rough. The aircraft was not a success.
Further land was requisitioned for the construction of a larger hangar, the building of which extended into 1919. However, with the end of the war, the RAF had no further plans for the airfield, and it was reduced to Care and Maintenance status on 22 January 1920, and the RAF left completely in March.
Major units based at Cramlington (in date order)