RAF North Witham

Post-WWII military drawdown. The airfield was a temporary wartime construction, and with the end of the war in Europe, it was deemed surplus to the requirements of the peacetime Royal Air Force. Its primary mission, supporting troop carrier operations for the invasion of Europe, was complete.

The site of the former airfield is now a mixture of woodland, industrial use, and agriculture.

- **Twyford Wood:** A large portion of the site, including parts of the main runways and perimeter track, was reforested by the Forestry Commission and is now a public woodland known as Twyford Wood. The old concrete infrastructure is still visible and serves as walking paths.

- **Industrial Estate:** A section of the former airfield is now the North Witham Industrial Estate, housing various businesses.

- **Memorial:** A memorial dedicated to the men of the USAAF 61st Troop Carrier Group who served at the airfield is located on the site.

- **Remains:** The outlines of the three concrete runways are still clearly visible from the air, though they are fragmented and overgrown.

RAF North Witham holds significant historical importance due to its role as a major base for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Ninth Air Force during World War II.

- **Construction and Allocation:** Built as a Class A bomber airfield, it opened in late 1943. It was never used by the RAF for its intended bomber role and was instead immediately allocated to the USAAF for troop carrier operations.

- **Primary Unit:** The station, designated USAAF Station 479, was home to the 61st Troop Carrier Group. Their primary aircraft were Douglas C-47 Skytrains.

- **Major Operations:** The 61st TCG played a critical role in several of the most famous Allied operations of the war:
- **Operation Neptune (D-Day):** On June 6, 1944, aircraft from North Witham dropped paratroopers from the US 82nd Airborne Division behind enemy lines in Normandy as part of the initial invasion.
- **Operation Market Garden:** In September 1944, the group participated in the largest airborne operation in history, dropping paratroopers and towing gliders into the Netherlands.
- **Battle of the Bulge:** During the Siege of Bastogne in December 1944, C-47s from North Witham flew dangerous and vital missions to resupply the besieged 101st Airborne Division.
- **Operation Varsity:** In March 1945, they participated in the airborne assault across the Rhine River into Germany.

- **Post-USAAF Use:** After the USAAF departed in 1945, the airfield was returned to RAF control and used by No. 274 Maintenance Unit for bomb storage before its eventual closure.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening RAF North Witham as an airport. The site has been extensively redeveloped and repurposed for forestry, industrial, and recreational use. The cost and logistical challenges of acquiring the land from multiple owners (including Forestry England) and restoring the infrastructure make any potential reopening unfeasible.