Squadron History
1151 (Wallsend) Squadron has a long and distinguished history which we are currently compiling and intend to publish on this website in the future.
Appeal for Assistance
If you are a serving or former member of 1151 Squadon or the wider ATC and recognise any of the individuals in the Squadron History Photo Gallery (which can be found here), please feel free to get in touch with the Officer Commanding to pass on your information. Additional methods of contact can be found here.
Formation
The squadron was officially formed in 1941 and paraded at the Richardson Dees School on Wallsend High Street. In the early 1950s the squadron moved to its present site next to Burnside School field. Finding a new location for the unit was difficult and questions were raised by the local MP in the House of Commons to expedite the problem. The unit was housed in two wooden buildings which had been moved from the baloon station at RAF Longbenton. The huts were removed in 1986 and the squadron paraded in the Burnside High School where it was allowed to use the canteen and two classrooms. As might be expected numbers fell but the squadron kept going. The Squadron was rehoused into the present building and was officially opened on 20 December 1987 by Air Commodre AFC Hunter RAF. Duing the time between the old hut being demolished and the new HQ being built the gateguard - a jet provost nose- disappeared, alledgedly stolen by a local scrapman who arrived one day and just loaded it on his waggon and drove off. Originally the unit was designed without a garage. Following consultation with TAVRA (Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve Association) a garage was added alledgedly forcing up the building costs from £80,000 to £120,000. Since the build the garage has been used as an air rifle range, demonstation area, workshop and now houses the Land Rover project.
The site of the unit occupies and area formely taken up by a signal box for the waggonway. By 1913 the signal box had disappeared as the coal carrying waggonway was out of use. The site remained empty until the unit was allocated the area in the 1950s.
1900 Map
1954 Map
2008 Map
