Royal Naval Air Station Anthorn

The closure was a result of the post-World War II military drawdown and a strategic reorganization of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. As the need for a large number of wartime airfields diminished, operations were consolidated at other, more permanent naval air stations. RNAS Anthorn was deemed surplus to requirements and was paid off, being placed into a state of 'Care and Maintenance' before its eventual disposal.

The site is now a critical national and international communications hub, known as the Anthorn Radio Station, operated by Babcock International. The former runways and airfield grounds are dominated by large antenna arrays. Its primary functions are:
1. **VLF Transmitter:** It houses a Very Low Frequency (VLF) transmitter used for communicating with submerged Royal Navy and NATO submarines.
2. **Time Signal Transmitter:** It is home to the UK's national time signal transmitter, known as MSF. This 60 kHz signal, controlled by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), is the source for radio-controlled clocks and other devices across the UK and parts of Western Europe.
3. **LF Data:** It also broadcasts low-frequency data services. The original runways are still visible from the air but are obstructed by the massive antenna masts and support buildings, making them unusable for aviation.

Commissioned on September 7, 1944, under the shore establishment name HMS Nuthatch, RNAS Anthorn was a major naval aviation facility during and immediately after World War II. Its primary role was as an Aircraft Receipt and Despatch Unit (ARDU). In this capacity, it received newly manufactured aircraft, such as the Fairey Firefly and Fairey Barracuda, prepared them for operational service, and dispatched them to front-line squadrons. The station was vast, featuring four runways, numerous hangars, and extensive technical and accommodation facilities for over 2,500 personnel. After its peak operational period, it was used for aircraft storage and maintenance until its closure.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening RNAS Anthorn as an airport. The site's current role as a strategic VLF communications station and the home of the UK's national time signal transmitter is of critical national importance. The extensive and permanent antenna infrastructure built across the former runways makes any conversion back to aviation use infeasible.