RAF Martlesham Heath

The closure of RAF Martlesham Heath as an active flying station was a result of the post-World War II strategic rationalisation and downsizing of the Royal Air Force. Following the 1957 Defence White Paper, many airfields from the WWII era were deemed redundant or unsuitable for the new generation of larger, faster jet aircraft which required longer runways. The closure was part of a broader military conversion, and the site was subsequently transferred to the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works for non-flying, research-related purposes.

The former airfield site has been completely redeveloped and repurposed. The main technical site is now Adastral Park, a large, high-tech business campus that serves as the global research and development headquarters for BT Group. The land where the runways and dispersals were located has been transformed into the large residential village of Martlesham Heath, which was constructed in the 1970s. The layout of some roads in the village intentionally follows the path of the old runways. The original 1942-pattern control tower has been preserved and is now home to the Martlesham Heath Control Tower Museum, which commemorates the airfield's history. Additionally, parts of the old heathland are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and managed as a nature reserve.

RAF Martlesham Heath has a rich and vital history in British aviation.

1. **Aircraft Testing (1917-1939):** From its establishment in 1917, it was the home of the Aeroplane Experimental Establishment, later the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE). In this role, it was the UK's premier military aircraft testing facility. Nearly every new British military aircraft of the inter-war period was rigorously tested and evaluated here, including the first prototypes of iconic aircraft like the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane.

2. **Battle of Britain (1939-1942):** With the outbreak of WWII, the A&AEE was relocated to a less vulnerable site. Martlesham Heath was repurposed as a crucial front-line fighter station for RAF Fighter Command's No. 11 Group. It was a key Sector Station during the Battle of Britain, housing squadrons flying Spitfires and Hurricanes and playing a direct role in defending London and the South East from Luftwaffe attacks.

3. **USAAF Operations (1943-1945):** In 1943, the station was transferred to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force and designated as Station 369. It became the base for the 356th Fighter Group, which flew P-47 Thunderbolt and later P-51 Mustang fighters on bomber escort and ground-attack missions over occupied Europe.

4. **Cold War Era (1945-1963):** After the war, the station returned to RAF Fighter Command control and hosted various jet fighter squadrons, including those flying the Gloster Meteor and Hawker Hunter, during the early years of the Cold War.

None. There are no plans or prospects for reopening the site as an airport. The land has been permanently and extensively redeveloped with high-value infrastructure, including a major technology park (Adastral Park) and a large residential village. The original runways and airfield facilities have been entirely removed, making any return to aviation use completely infeasible.