RAF Poulton

Military Decommissioning. RAF Poulton was a temporary Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) constructed for a specific, short-term military purpose: to support the Allied invasion of Normandy (D-Day) during World War II. Once the Allied forces were successfully established in mainland Europe and the airfield was no longer strategically required, it was decommissioned and the land was returned to its original agricultural use.

The site has been fully returned to agricultural use and consists of open farmland. Almost all traces of the airfield have been removed. The original runways, which were constructed from temporary materials like Sommerfeld Tracking, were dismantled after the war. Some faint outlines of the former perimeter track and dispersal pads can occasionally be discerned in aerial photography or as farm tracks, but there is no remaining aviation infrastructure on the site.

RAF Poulton was a crucial World War II airfield, designated as USAAF Station 459. Opened in late 1943, its primary role was to house fighter aircraft in the build-up to the D-Day landings. From April to July 1944, it was the base for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Ninth Air Force's 373rd Fighter Group, which flew Republic P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft. The group trained at Poulton before flying combat missions over France in support of the invasion. After the 373rd Fighter Group relocated to France, the airfield was briefly used by RAF units, including No. 48 and No. 248 Squadrons flying de Havilland Mosquitos, for training and anti-shipping patrols before its final closure. A memorial plaque dedicated to the 373rd Fighter Group is located at the nearby Poulton Hall.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening RAF Poulton. The land is privately owned and has been actively farmed for over 75 years. The complete lack of infrastructure and its historical status as a temporary military installation make any future aviation use extremely unlikely.