RAF Thorpe Abbotts

The primary reason for closure was the large-scale military drawdown following the end of World War II. As a temporary wartime airfield, it was deemed surplus to the requirements of the post-war Royal Air Force, which was transitioning to the jet age and consolidating its operations at fewer, more permanent bases.

The majority of the former airfield, including its concrete runways and taxiways, has been removed and the land returned to agricultural use. However, a significant portion of the site is preserved and serves as the 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum. The museum is housed in the original wartime control tower and several restored Nissen huts, containing extensive exhibits dedicated to the history of the base and the American personnel who served there. The ICAO code GB-0612 likely refers to a small, private grass airstrip on or adjacent to the original airfield, used by light aircraft, possibly for visitors to the museum, but it is not a public or operational airport.

RAF Thorpe Abbotts holds significant historical importance as the wartime home of the 100th Bombardment Group (Heavy) of the United States Army Air Forces' Eighth Air Force, from June 1943 to December 1945. The group, flying B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, became famously known as 'The Bloody Hundredth' due to the severe losses it sustained during strategic bombing missions over Nazi-occupied Europe. Key targets included German industrial centers, U-boat pens, and airfields. The group's high casualty rate, particularly during raids on Regensburg and Munster in 1943, cemented its legendary and tragic status in military aviation history. The base and its personnel have been prominently featured in historical accounts and the 2024 television series 'Masters of the Air'.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening RAF Thorpe Abbotts as a commercial or full-scale military airport. The site's current configuration as primarily agricultural land and a protected historical museum makes any such redevelopment financially impractical and historically inappropriate. The focus remains on preservation and commemoration.