{{Short description|Former RAF base in Cheshire, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox military installation | name = RAF Poulton | ensign = Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg | ensign_size = 90px | native_name = | partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site --> | nearest_town = Poulton, Cheshire | country = England | image = RAF Poulton.jpg | alt = | caption = RAF Poulton, July 2022 | image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields --> | alt2 = | caption2 = | type = Royal Air Force satellite station | coordinates = {{coord|53|07|46|N|002|53|42|W|type:airport_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Cheshire#UK | pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Cheshire | pushpin_label = RAF Poulton | pushpin_label_position = | ownership = Air Ministry | operator = Royal Air Force | controlledby = RAF Fighter Command<br />* No. 9 Group RAF<br/ >* No. 81 (OTU) Group RAF | open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc --> | site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc --> | site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc --> | code = PU | built = {{Start date|1942}}/43 | used = March 1943 - August {{End date|1945}} | builder = George Wimpey & Co Ltd | materials = | height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level --> | length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs --> | fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter--> | condition = | battles = European theatre of World War II | events = | past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) --> | garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group --> | occupants = <!-- squadrons only --> | designations = | website = | footnotes = <!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox that doesn't work in new code --> <!-- begin airfield information --> | IATA = | ICAO = | FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = | elevation = {{Convert|50|ft|0}}{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=163}} | r1-number = 01/19 | r1-length = {{Convert|1800|m|0}} | r1-surface = Concrete | r2-number = 06/24 | r2-length = {{Convert|1245|m|0}} | r2-surface = Concrete | r3-number = 14/32 | r3-length = {{Convert|1254|m|0}} | r3-surface = Concrete | h1-number = | h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | h1-surface = | airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities --> <!-- end airfield information --> }} '''Royal Air Force Poulton''' or more simply '''RAF Poulton''' (X4PL) is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located near Poulton, Cheshire and was operational from 1 March 1943 until 1945. It was used as an Operational Training Unit (OTU) and Tactical Exercise Unit (TEU) for Hawker Hurricanes.
==History== It was part of 12 Group and was used as a satellite of RAF Hawarden. It had 8 Blister and 1 Bessonneau hangars.<ref name="Ferguson">{{Harvnb|Ferguson|2008|pp=125–128.}}</ref>
==Based units and aircraft== * No. 3 Tactical Exercise Unit RAF (TEU), using the Hawker Hurricane. Arrived Nov 43.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rafcommands.com/Ross/Fighter/3teuF.html|title = RAFCommands}}</ref> Possibly moved to Aston Down on 18 Dec 44 and re-designated as No 55 OTU.<ref name="rafweb.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/OTU_3.htm |title=OTUs 41 - 63 |accessdate=2012-06-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613220551/http://www.rafweb.org/OTU_3.htm |archivedate=13 June 2012}}</ref> * No. 12 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF ((P) AFU), using the Airspeed Oxford.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/FTS.htm |title=Flying Training Schools_P |accessdate=2012-06-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125032445/http://www.rafweb.org/FTS.htm |archivedate=25 November 2012}}</ref> * No. 1515 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF, almost certainly using the Airspeed Oxford.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1957/1957%20-%200277.PDF |title=Archived copy |access-date=10 November 2014 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306214224/https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1957/1957%20-%200277.PDF |url-status=dead }}</ref> * No. 41 Operational Training Unit RAF (OTU) (Day Fighter Wing), possibly using the Hawker Hurricane. Moved to Poulton from Hawarden 1 Feb 45, and was re-designated as... * No. 58 OTU on 15 Mar 45, using the Supermarine Spitfire. Disbanded 20 Jul 45.<ref name="rafweb.org"/> * Detachment from No. 595 Squadron RAF{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=97}}
==Current use== Part of the site remains in use as a private airfield.<ref name="Jones2008p00">{{Harvnb|Jones|2008|p=00.}}</ref>
==See also==
* List of former Royal Air Force stations
==References== ===Citations=== {{Reflist}}
===Bibliography=== *{{cite book |last1=Falconer|first1=Jonathan|title=RAF Airfields of World War 2 |year=2012 |publisher= Ian Allan Publishing|location= UK|isbn=978-1-85780-349-5}} * {{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Ferguson|2008}}|reference=Ferguson, Aldon, ''Cheshire Airfields in the Second World War''. Countryside Books, 2008. {{ISBN|978-1-8530-6927-7}}.}} *{{cite book |last1=Jefford |first1= C.G. |title= RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 |year=1988 |publisher= Airlife |location= Shrewsbury |isbn= 1-85310-053-6 }} * {{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Jones|2008}}|reference=Jones, I, ''Airfields and Landing Grounds of Wales: North''. Tempus Publishing, 2008. {{ISBN|978-0-7524-4510-6}}.}}
==External links== *[http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/poulton RAF Poulton (at Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust)]
{{Royal Air Force}} {{Royal Air Force stations in Cheshire}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Poulton}} Category:Royal Air Force stations in Cheshire Category:Military airbases established in 1943 Category:Military airbases closed in 1945