RAF Stanton Harcourt Air Base

Post-World War II military drawdown. The airfield was constructed as a temporary wartime measure. With the end of hostilities and the subsequent contraction of the Royal Air Force, it was deemed surplus to requirements and was not retained for peacetime use.

The site is no longer recognizable as an airfield. Since its closure, the land has been extensively quarried for sand and gravel. This has resulted in a landscape dominated by large, water-filled pits which are now used as lakes for recreation and nature reserves. Some parts of the former airfield are occupied by light industrial estates and agricultural land. While faint outlines of the runways can sometimes be discerned from satellite imagery, almost all original buildings, hangars, and paved surfaces have been removed.

RAF Stanton Harcourt was a strategically important airfield during World War II, primarily for transport and airborne operations.

Key Operations:
- It initially served as a training base for bomber crews, hosting No. 10 Operational Training Unit flying Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bombers.
- Its most significant role was as a major departure point for British airborne forces. On the eve of D-Day (5-6 June 1944), Albermarle and Halifax aircraft towed Horsa gliders from the airfield, carrying troops of the 6th Airborne Division to Normandy. Prime Minister Winston Churchill famously visited the station to watch the D-Day forces depart.
- In September 1944, it was again a crucial departure point for Operation Market Garden, with Dakotas and gliders carrying elements of the 1st Airborne Division to the battle at Arnhem.
- Throughout its operational life, it hosted various transport squadrons, contributing significantly to the Allied war effort.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening RAF Stanton Harcourt as an airport. The complete redevelopment of the site for quarrying and industrial use makes any future aviation activity infeasible. The land has been irrevocably altered from its original state.