RAF Charmy Down

Military Decommissioning: The airfield was closed following the end of World War II. With the cessation of hostilities, there was a massive reduction in the need for military airfields across the United Kingdom, and RAF Charmy Down was deemed surplus to post-war requirements. It was placed on 'Care and Maintenance' in October 1945 and officially closed the following year.

The site of the former airfield is now primarily agricultural land, home to Charmy Down Farm. However, significant remnants of its wartime past are still visible. The outlines of the three concrete runways and the perimeter track are largely intact and are popular with local walkers, runners, and cyclists. Several derelict structures, including the control tower, blast pens, and various Nissen huts, still stand as historical landmarks. A crucial piece of modern aviation infrastructure, the Compton (CPT) VOR/DME navigational beacon, is located on the site and is used by commercial and private aircraft for navigation in the Bristol and South West England airspace. The area is also used by the Bath Astronomers for its dark sky qualities and by model aircraft flying clubs.

RAF Charmy Down was a significant Royal Air Force fighter station during World War II. Opened in August 1941, it initially served as a satellite airfield for RAF Colerne. Its primary role was as a day and night fighter station to defend the cities of Bristol and Bath from Luftwaffe air raids. Throughout the war, it hosted numerous RAF squadrons, including No. 87 Squadron flying Hawker Hurricanes and later Supermarine Spitfires, and No. 137 and No. 263 Squadrons flying Hawker Typhoons. The station also played a crucial role in the build-up to the D-Day landings, hosting squadrons that conducted offensive sweeps over occupied France. In addition to the RAF, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) used the airfield, notably the 4th Tactical Air Depot, which assembled, modified, and repaired P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bombers. After the Allied invasion of Europe, the airfield's operational importance declined, and it was used for training purposes, including as a glider school, before its eventual closure.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening RAF Charmy Down as a functional airport. The land is privately owned, used for agriculture, and is located within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which places significant restrictions on development. The presence of the critical VOR navigation beacon and the site's historical and recreational value make its conversion back to an active airfield extremely unlikely.