RAF Breighton

The closure was a result of the post-World War II strategic military drawdown and evolving defense needs. After the war, the base was no longer required for front-line bomber operations. Its final role as a Thor ballistic missile site ended when the missile system was declared obsolete and decommissioned in 1963, rendering the base surplus to the requirements of the Royal Air Force.

The site is not derelict; it has been successfully repurposed and is very active. A large portion of the former RAF station is now a private airfield known as Breighton Aerodrome (ICAO: EGBR). It is the home of the Real Aeroplane Company, a renowned organization that restores and operates a significant collection of vintage and classic aircraft. The airfield uses a section of the original main runway and several original WWII-era hangars and buildings. It is a major hub for heritage aviation in the UK, hosting regular fly-in events that attract enthusiasts from across the country. Other parts of the original, larger airfield have been returned to agricultural use, but the concrete bases for the three Thor missile launch pads are still clearly visible.

RAF Breighton was a significant heavy bomber base during World War II. Opened in early 1942, it was part of RAF Bomber Command's No. 1 Group. Its primary role was as a base for strategic bombing missions against targets in Germany and occupied Europe. The station was notably home to two key squadrons:
- No. 460 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), which operated Vickers Wellingtons and later the iconic Avro Lancaster.
- No. 78 Squadron RAF, which flew Handley Page Halifax bombers.
After the war, the airfield was used for aircraft storage by various Maintenance Units. Its historical significance was renewed during the Cold War when, from 1959 to 1963, it became one of twenty RAF stations to host Thor Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs) as part of 'Project Emily', a crucial component of the United Kingdom's early nuclear deterrent.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening RAF Breighton as a military installation or for developing it into a commercial public airport. The site has found a stable and successful new life as a private heritage airfield (Breighton Aerodrome). Its future is firmly rooted in the preservation and flying of vintage aircraft, and its current operation is considered its final, long-term status.