Dates: 1941 - 1964 RAF Middleton St. George was a Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command station during World War II. It was located in County Durham, five miles east of Darlington, England. The aerodrome opened as a Bomber Command station in 1941. In 1943 it was allocated to No. 6 Group, Royal Canadian Air Force. A sub-station was located at Croft. Squadrons based here include: 76 Squadron, which flew Halifaxes, 78 Squadron, which flew Whitleys, 419 Squadron RCAF, which flew Wellingtons, Halifaxes, and Lancasters, 420 Squadron RCAF, which flew Wellingtons, and 428 Squadron RCAF, which flew Wellingtons, Halifaxes, and Lancasters. After the war, the aerodrome served various squadrons and units including No. 13 Operational Training Unit (OTU), No. 2 Air Navigation School, No. 4 Flight Training School, and squadrons that used Meteors, Hunters, Javelins and Lightnings. The RAF left the station in 1964 but the aerodrome was reopened in 1966 as a civil airport. It is now Durham Tees Valley Airport.
Added on 25/10/201013 OTU Was a Mosquito training unit with basic training at Croft Spa sub base. Pupils came to Mosquitos from low powered twins like Oxfords or Ansons and the "prang rate was high. One afternoon in March 46 we lost two to take-off swings in one day.
Memories of RAF Middleton St George
RAF Middleton St George, in 1963Written by dick ragg Contact this person >>  "My first RAF Station on leaving Boy Entrant training in 1961 was RAF Middleton St George. My first jpb was Sqn Clk with the then named Lightning Conversion Squadron, with Sqn Ldr KJ Goodwin as CO. One Friday afternoon in March (I think it was March) of 1963, I was in the office hoping someone was going to tell me to go home for the weekend. the CO came in and I stood up expectantly.. would you like to go for a ride in the T4. I was gobsmacked. Of course I said yes! So I was kitted out by a totally bemused SE worker who lost no time in relaying to the engineering line what this 18 year old pen pusher was up to. As I walked onto the pan with the CO it seemed that the whole eng sqn were out there - and they were not cheering!! WELL we took off and I was scared to death - it was the first time I had ever flown. It was fantastic, but over all too soon. I was given my "TEN TON" tie and signed Certificate. Luckily, I was on leave the following week, otherwise I may not have survived. " RAF Middleton St George, in 1963Written by dickragg Contact this person >> "Was it 1963 - it could have been 1962 or 1964 - my memory is not all it was but..... who remembers the loss
of 4(?) Javelins in France whilst taking
off on an early frosty morning? Perhaps someone with a better memory than me can add a bit more info--- or tell me my memory is flawed!!!"
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving RAF Middleton St George
" Quoting: Colin Hall That, Ron, was due to the Lightning being a p**s-poor design from the word go, in that it never had any fuel capacity incorporated into the original design. In a fight, a Lightning had an endurance of minutes. Nice aeroplane, and impressive performance, still, but flawed. ..."
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" Quoting: John (scouse) Hirons Alright Colin, Brilliant footage. there is, & probably never will be, a sight like a Vulcan squadron scramble. Another incredable sight was the Lightning MK 6 going up on afterburners at night. They just seemed to sit on twin cones of blue flame & shoot stright ..."
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" My last memory of the steam train, was in about 1961 or 2, I was returning to my station at RAF Middleton St George near Darlington after a wild weekend in London. It was freezing cold and snowing. I was lucky enough to find a compartment all to myself, so I stretched out, pulled my great ..."
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"i will be at raf middleton st george ,as was.on tuesday 7 june.if anyone knows me i would like to meet you."
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