RNAS Crail

The closure was a direct result of the large-scale demobilization and reduction of British military forces following the end of World War II. The primary mission of the base—training large numbers of Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance crews for the Fleet Air Arm—was no longer required in peacetime. The site was eventually deemed surplus to military requirements and sold.

The site is now privately owned and has a variety of uses. A significant portion of the main runway is operated as Crail Raceway, a popular venue for drag racing and other motorsport events. The airfield also hosts a large weekly market and car boot sale. Other areas of the former base are used for agriculture and vehicle/caravan storage. Many of the original WWII-era structures, including hangars, the control tower, and accommodation blocks, are still standing, albeit in various states of decay. The site is a well-preserved example of a WWII airfield and is of significant interest to historians and urban explorers.

RNAS Crail, commissioned as HMS Jackdaw on 1 October 1940, was one of the largest and most important Fleet Air Arm (FAA) training establishments in the United Kingdom during World War II. Its primary role was as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance (TBR) school, training thousands of pilots, observers, and air gunners. Crews trained here flew iconic aircraft such as the Fairey Swordfish, Fairey Albacore, and Fairey Barracuda. The base was extensive, featuring three runways, numerous hangars, and accommodation for over 2,500 personnel. Its contribution to the FAA's operational capability during the war was immense. The site also had a brief history during World War I as a Royal Flying Corps training depot before being re-established for WWII.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening RNAS Crail as a functioning airport. The site is in private ownership with established and successful commercial uses (motorsport and market). The remaining aviation infrastructure, such as the runways and taxiways, is in a state of disrepair and would require massive investment to be made airworthy. Its reopening as an aviation facility is considered economically and logistically unviable.