We have found these fantastic old photos in the Northern Echo archive of the final days of RAF Middleton St George.
The military base closed in 1964 and is now the home of Teesside International Airport.
The last military planes take off from RAF Middleton St George on April 13, 1964. The 14 Lightnings (top speed: 1,000mph-plus, according to The Northern Echo) took 22 minutes to cover 220 miles and land at RAF Coltishaw, Norfolk, where they were to be based. The Rector of Hurworth, the Rev Leonard Piper and chaplain to the airfield, was aboard – but it took him seven hours to get home on the ground.
Inside the officers' mess at RAF Middleton St George in November 1960.
An amazing picture from the Echo archive's which just says "Middleton St George Battle of Britain preparations" on the back of it. Can this really be true?
Part of the RAF base was converted into the Middleton St George College of Education, training teachers, which closed in 1973.
When RAF Middleton St George became a civilian airport in 1964, it got a new name.
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