RAF Woolsington opened as a civil airport in July 1935 and was requisitioned by the Royal Air Force on the outbreak of World War II. It served at various times as a satellite of both RAF Acklington and RAF Ouston but saw little operational flying. On one notable occasion in 1940, however, a Spitfire of No. 72 Squadron RAF flying out of Woolsington actually shot down a Ju88 at night - a remarkable achievement for an aircraft considered unsuitable for night fighting.