RAF Welford

Not applicable. The station has been in continuous operation since its construction during World War II.

RAF Welford is an active Royal Air Force station under the command of the United States Air Force. It is home to the 420th Munitions Squadron (420 MUNS), a component of the 501st Combat Support Wing. Its primary mission is to receive, store, maintain, and deploy the largest stockpile of conventional munitions for the USAF in Europe. The site includes extensive storage bunkers (igloos), maintenance facilities, and a runway capable of handling large military transport aircraft, such as the C-17 Globemaster III, for the rapid deployment of munitions. The site underwent a major £20 million upgrade project, completed around 2011, which included a new railhead to improve logistics.

RAF Welford was constructed in 1943 for RAF Bomber Command. During World War II, it was primarily used by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Ninth Air Force as a troop carrier base (Station 474). It was home to the 435th Troop Carrier Group, which flew C-47 Skytrains and Waco CG-4A gliders. The base played a critical role in major airborne operations, including the D-Day Normandy landings (Operation Overlord) and Operation Market Garden. After the war, it was placed on standby status before being transferred to the USAF in 1955 to serve as a major munitions and explosives storage depot, a role it has maintained throughout the Cold War and into the present day.

Not applicable, as the station is currently active and serves a critical strategic role for NATO and the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA). There are no plans for its closure; its strategic importance ensures its continued operation for the foreseeable future.