RAF Tuddenham

Military downsizing and strategic redundancy. The airfield became surplus to the RAF's requirements for bomber operations following the end of World War II. After a brief reactivation during the Cold War as a missile site, the withdrawal of the PGM-17 Thor missile system in 1963 led to its final, permanent closure.

The site is now largely derelict and has been partially repurposed. The classic triangular runway pattern is still clearly visible from the air, but the concrete is broken and heavily weathered. Parts of the runways and perimeter track are used for agriculture and open storage. The main technical site has been redeveloped into the Tuddenham Road Industrial Estate, housing various local businesses. Many original WWII buildings, including the control tower, Nissen huts, and other structures, remain standing in a derelict condition, making the site a point of interest for historians and urban explorers.

RAF Tuddenham was a significant World War II heavy bomber station, built as a 'Class A' airfield and opened in 1943. It was part of No. 3 Group, RAF Bomber Command. Its primary operational units were:

- **No. 90 Squadron RAF:** Flew Short Stirling bombers on strategic bombing missions over Germany and occupied Europe.
- **No. 138 (Special Duties) Squadron RAF:** This was its most notable role. The squadron flew clandestine missions for the Special Operations Executive (SOE), dropping agents, weapons, and supplies to resistance movements across Europe. They initially used Stirlings and later, Avro Lancasters for these high-risk operations.

After the war, the airfield transitioned into a Cold War asset. From 1959 to 1963, it was one of twenty RAF stations that hosted PGM-17 Thor intermediate-range ballistic missiles, operated by No. 107 Squadron RAF. These missiles were part of a joint US/UK nuclear deterrent project aimed at the Soviet Union.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening RAF Tuddenham as an airport. The infrastructure is severely degraded, key parts of the site have been sold and redeveloped for industrial and agricultural use, and its proximity to active bases like RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall would create airspace conflicts. A return to aviation operations is considered unfeasible.