RAF Burtonwood

The closure was a direct result of the end of the Cold War. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the strategic need for a massive US military logistics and supply depot in the UK was significantly reduced, leading to a major drawdown of American forces across Europe.

The former airfield has been completely redeveloped. The site is now home to the Omega Warrington business park, a major commercial and logistics hub with large distribution centres for companies like Amazon, The Hut Group, and Royal Mail. A large portion of the site has also been developed into a residential area known as Chapelford Urban Village. While the main runways have been removed, parts of the old taxiways have been incorporated into the modern road network. A dedicated RAF Burtonwood Heritage Centre operates nearby to preserve the history of the base.

RAF Burtonwood was one of the most important military airfields in Europe for over 50 years. Opened in 1940, it became the largest and busiest US Army Air Forces (USAAF) station in the UK during World War II, serving as the primary maintenance and supply depot for American aircraft (known as Base Air Depot No. 1). It played a crucial role in modifying and repairing thousands of bombers and fighters. After the war, it was a key maintenance base for C-54 Skymasters during the Berlin Airlift (1948-49). Throughout the Cold War, it served as a vital logistics hub for the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) and later the US Army, acting as the main reception and storage depot for equipment and supplies destined for Europe. At its peak, it was the largest US base in the UK.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening RAF Burtonwood as an airport. The site has been extensively and irreversibly redeveloped for commercial, industrial, and residential use. The original airport infrastructure, including the runways, has been demolished and built over, making any future aviation use infeasible.