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Eshott Airfield is a general aviation airfield in the civil parish of Thirston, in the county of Northumberland, England, 20 miles (32 km) north of Newcastle, and midway between Morpeth and Alnwick. It is a former Second World War Royal Air Force (RAF) station and is also known as Bockenfield Aerodrome.[1]
Eshott Airfield RAF Eshott (1942–1944) Bockenfield Aerodrome | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | Eshott Airfield Ltd. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Felton, Northumberland | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 197 ft / 60 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 55°16′45″N 01°43′15″W / 55.27917°N 1.72083°W | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||||||
  Eshott Airfield Location in Northumberland | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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Second World War
editFrom 10 November 1942 Eshott was home to No. 57 Operational Training Unit RAF. Training on Supermarine Spitfires was carried out there along with a satellite airfield at RAF Boulmer between March 1943 and June 1945, until the unit was disbanded on 6 June 1945.[2][3]
The following units were also here at some point:[4]
- No. 289 Squadron RAF between 18 May and 5 June 1945[5]
- No. 291 Squadron RAF detachment from 1943 to 1945[5]
- No. 2777 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2803 Squadron RAF Regiment
Current use
editEshott, now a civil general aviation field, is used by light aircraft and microlights. It has both tarmac and grass runways.
The airfield is home to more than 40 aircraft and has a clubhouse, parking, and three hangar blocks.
References
editCitations
edit- ^ Smith, Ian (20 February 2024). "New operator to take on Eshott Airfield after sale agreed". Northumberland Gazette. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 204.
- ^ ""No. 57 Operational Training Unit RAF", RAF Fighter Command 1939–1945". Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
- ^ "Eshott (Felton)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 84.
Bibliography
edit- Jefford, C. G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.