RAF Great Orton

Post-war military drawdown. Following the end of World War II, the Royal Air Force underwent a significant reduction in size and infrastructure. Airfields like Great Orton, which were built for specific wartime training purposes, were deemed surplus to the requirements of the smaller, peacetime air force. The station was placed on 'care and maintenance' before being officially sold off by the Air Ministry in 1960.

The site has been completely transformed and is no longer recognizable as an active airfield. Its post-military history is notable for two major developments:

1. **2001 Foot-and-Mouth Crisis:** The site gained notoriety during the UK's 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak when it was requisitioned by the government to serve as a mass burial site for millions of culled livestock. Huge pits were dug on the former airfield for this purpose.

2. **Redevelopment:** Following the crisis, the site underwent significant remediation and redevelopment. It is now home to the Watchtree Nature Reserve, a large community-owned conservation area with wetlands, woodlands, and grasslands. A significant portion of the site also hosts the Watchtree Wind Farm, a renewable energy project. The old runways and perimeter tracks are used by Watchtree Wheelers, an accessible cycling charity. While some remnants of the airfield layout are visible from the air, the land is now primarily used for nature conservation, recreation, and energy generation.

RAF Great Orton was a purpose-built World War II airfield that opened in June 1943. It was not a front-line combat station but served a critical role as a satellite airfield for the larger RAF Silloth. Its primary function was as a training facility, hosting the No. 15 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit ((P)AFU). This unit was responsible for the advanced training of pilots, primarily using twin-engine Airspeed Oxford aircraft, preparing them to fly multi-engine bombers for Bomber Command. After the war, its role shifted to storage and maintenance, with No. 14 Maintenance Unit using the site for storing and scrapping surplus aircraft before the station's eventual closure as a flying base in 1952.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening RAF Great Orton as an airport. The site's current use as a nature reserve, wind farm, and its history as a mass burial site make any such redevelopment extremely unlikely and logistically prohibitive. Furthermore, the nearby Carlisle Lake District Airport (EGNC) serves the region's aviation needs, negating any requirement for a second airport in the immediate area.