RAF Talbenny

Post-World War II military drawdown. RAF Talbenny was a purpose-built wartime airfield. With the end of hostilities in Europe and the victory in the Battle of the Atlantic, the extensive network of RAF Coastal Command bases was no longer required. The station was deemed surplus to requirements as part of the massive reduction of the UK's armed forces and was placed on 'Care and Maintenance' before being sold off.

The site is no longer an active airfield and has been repurposed. The classic three-runway layout is still clearly visible from the air, but the runways themselves have been removed or grassed over and the land has largely returned to agricultural use, primarily for grazing. Many of the original wartime buildings, including hangars and the control tower, have been demolished. A large portion of the western side of the former airfield is now occupied by the Talbenny Solar Farm, a significant renewable energy project. Some of the original perimeter tracks and aircraft hardstandings remain and are used as farm tracks.

RAF Talbenny was a significant Royal Air Force station during World War II, playing a crucial role in the Battle of the Atlantic. Opened in February 1942, it was primarily operated by RAF Coastal Command. Its strategic location in Pembrokeshire provided excellent range over the Western Approaches and the Bay of Biscay. Operations focused on anti-submarine warfare, convoy escort, and meteorological reconnaissance. The station hosted numerous squadrons, including international crews, flying a variety of aircraft. Notable units and operations included:
- No. 172 Squadron, which pioneered the use of the Leigh Light-equipped Vickers Wellington for night-time attacks on German U-boats.
- No. 304 (Polish) Squadron, flying Vickers Wellingtons on anti-submarine patrols.
- No. 517 Squadron, conducting vital meteorological flights over the Atlantic with Handley Page Halifaxes and Boeing Fortresses, providing weather data essential for planning major operations, including D-Day.
- Other squadrons flying aircraft such as the Consolidated Liberator and Short Sunderland also operated from Talbenny.
The airfield was also used by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm for training and operations. Its contribution was vital to keeping sea lanes open and neutralizing the U-boat threat.

None. There are no known plans or prospects for reopening RAF Talbenny as an airport. The conversion of the land to agricultural use and, more significantly, the construction of a large-scale solar farm on the site make any potential reactivation as an airfield logistically and economically unfeasible. The essential aviation infrastructure has been removed for decades.