Hardwick Airfield / RAF Hardwick

Military Drawdown. The primary reason for the closure was the end of World War II and the subsequent large-scale reduction of Allied military forces. The airfield was deemed surplus to the post-war requirements of the Royal Air Force (RAF).

The site has largely been returned to its pre-war agricultural use. Most of the concrete runways and perimeter tracks have been removed, although some sections remain as farm tracks and are visible in aerial photography. Several original wartime buildings, including Nissen huts, are still standing in various conditions. The most significant part of the site today is the 93rd Bomb Group Museum, which is housed in restored original Nissen huts on the airfield's former WAAF site. The museum is dedicated to preserving the memory of the 93rd BG and the history of the airfield. The site is a point of interest for historians and relatives of the veterans who served there.

RAF Hardwick was a significant World War II heavy bomber airfield, designated as USAAF Station 104. Constructed in 1941-1942, it was built to Class A airfield standards. Initially used by RAF Bomber Command squadrons, its primary historical importance comes from its use by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force. From September 1942 until June 1945, Hardwick was the home of the 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy). The 93rd BG, nicknamed 'Ted's Traveling Circus' after its first commander Colonel Edward J. Timberlake, was the first B-24 Liberator group to arrive in the UK. They flew over 396 combat missions, the highest number for any B-24 group in the Eighth Air Force. The group's most famous and costly mission was the low-level raid on the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania (Operation Tidal Wave) on August 1, 1943, for which two of its members were awarded the Medal of Honor. After the USAAF's departure, the airfield was returned to the RAF and used by Maintenance Units until flying operations ceased in 1946.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Hardwick Airfield as a functional airport. The majority of the essential aviation infrastructure, including the control tower and most of the runways, was demolished or removed decades ago. The land is privately owned and used for agriculture. Its current value is historical and commemorative, centered around the museum, making any future aviation use extremely unlikely.