QinetiQ Pershore (Throckmorton) Airfield

The closure was a result of military and research mission changes, not economic failure or a specific incident. Initially, it was part of the post-WWII consolidation of RAF bases. It was then repurposed from an operational flying base to a specialist research and development site. Finally, corporate consolidation by its owner, QinetiQ, led to the relocation of remaining aviation test activities to other core sites like MoD Boscombe Down, rendering the airfield's runways redundant for their purposes.

The site, now known as Throckmorton, is owned by QinetiQ and is used as a multi-purpose test, trials, and training facility. It is no longer used for aviation. Current activities include:

- **Vehicle and Equipment Testing:** The runways and extensive hardstanding are used for testing autonomous vehicles, communications equipment, and other technologies.
- **Emergency Services Training:** The site is frequently used by police, fire, and ambulance services for large-scale driver training and major incident simulations.
- **Vehicle Storage:** Large areas of the former airfield are used for the secure storage of thousands of new vehicles.
- **Motorsport:** The site occasionally hosts motorsport events like sprints and rallies.

Notably, in 2001, the airfield gained national attention when it was used as a mass burial site for animal carcasses during the UK's foot-and-mouth disease crisis.

The airfield has significant historical importance across two distinct eras:

1. **World War II (as RAF Pershore):** Opened in 1941, it was a major RAF Bomber Command base. It was home to No. 23 Operational Training Unit (OTU), which was responsible for training thousands of aircrew, primarily for the Vickers Wellington bomber. The base played a crucial role in preparing crews for night bombing operations over occupied Europe.

2. **Cold War (as RRE Pershore):** After the war, the site transitioned into a world-leading centre for scientific research. It became the home of the Radar Research Establishment (RRE), later the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment (RSRE). From the 1950s to the late 1970s, it was the main flight trials airfield for testing cutting-edge radar, avionics, electronic warfare systems, and early night-vision technology. A diverse fleet of aircraft, including Canberras, Viscounts, and Hastings, were modified and flown from Pershore to test systems that would be deployed across the RAF and Royal Navy.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the site as an airport. The prospects for aviation use are effectively zero. Instead, the site is the subject of a major, long-term strategic development plan. Wychavon District Council has identified Throckmorton Airfield as a location for a potential new 'garden village' settlement, which could include over 2,000 new homes, employment land, schools, and community facilities. The future of the site is firmly in large-scale redevelopment, not aviation.