RAF Bibury

The airfield was closed due to the end of World War II and the subsequent large-scale reduction of military airfields across the UK. As a temporary wartime station built primarily for training, it was deemed surplus to post-war requirements.

The site has been almost completely returned to agricultural use. The land is now privately owned farmland. While the main buildings, including the control tower and hangars, have been demolished, the faint outlines of the three runways and the perimeter track are still clearly visible from satellite imagery. Some minor structures, such as a few pillboxes, may still exist in the surrounding fields, serving as a remnant of its wartime past.

RAF Bibury was a Royal Air Force station that played a crucial role as a training facility during World War II. It opened in 1939 as a Relief Landing Ground (RLG) for No. 3 Flying Training School based at RAF South Cerney. Its role evolved throughout the war:

- **Initial Use (1939-1941):** Served as an RLG for trainee pilots flying aircraft like the Hawker Hart and Audax.
- **Satellite Station (1941-1942):** Became a satellite airfield for No. 6 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) from RAF Little Rissington, where pilots trained on Miles Master aircraft.
- **Operational Training (1942-1945):** Its most significant role was hosting No. 52 Operational Training Unit (OTU), which specialized in day-fighter training. Pilots finalized their training here on aircraft including Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfires before being posted to frontline squadrons.
- **Infrastructure:** Initially a grass airfield, it was later upgraded with three concrete runways to handle the heavier and faster fighter aircraft.
- **Other Units:** The airfield also briefly hosted the Glider Pilot Exercise Unit and was used for aircraft storage by No. 8 Maintenance Unit.

The ICAO code 'GB-0117' is an unofficial designation used in flight simulators and historical databases; it was never an official ICAO code assigned during its operational life.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening RAF Bibury as an airport. The land is in private ownership, the original infrastructure is gone or derelict, and its location in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty makes any future aviation development extremely unlikely.