Haldon Aerodrome

Military redundancy following the end of World War II and technical obsolescence. As a grass airfield with relatively short runways, it was deemed unsuitable for the larger, heavier, and faster aircraft of the post-war era. The nearby RAF Exeter had been significantly upgraded with hard runways during the war and became the primary airport for the region, making Haldon economically and operationally unviable to maintain or upgrade.

The site of the former aerodrome has been completely re-purposed. The land is now primarily part of Haldon Forest Park, a large public woodland managed by Forestry England, and is adjacent to Exeter Racecourse. The area is used extensively for public recreation, including walking, hiking, and mountain biking trails. While the runways and most buildings have been removed and reclaimed by nature, some historical remnants of its wartime past, such as concrete pillboxes and building foundations, can still be found by explorers within the forest.

Haldon Aerodrome was a pioneering civil airfield in the United Kingdom, officially opening in 1929. It was established by aviator and racing driver Whitney Straight and became a popular center for private flying and air-touring. It hosted famous air races, including the first Teignmouth Air Race. In the 1930s, it was a key stop for early commercial passenger services, notably operated by Great Western Railway (GWR) Air Services, which ran flights connecting Haldon with Cardiff and Plymouth. At the outbreak of World War II, the aerodrome was requisitioned by the Air Ministry and commissioned in 1941 as RAF Haldon. It served as a crucial satellite fighter station for RAF Exeter, hosting numerous squadrons (including Polish units) flying Spitfires and Hurricanes. It played a defensive role during the Battle of Britain and later supported offensive fighter sweeps over occupied France. It was also briefly used by the Fleet Air Arm as HMS Heron II.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Haldon Aerodrome. The land's current status as a protected public forest park and its integration with Exeter Racecourse make any redevelopment for aviation purposes logistically, financially, and environmentally unfeasible. The site is valued for its historical significance and current recreational use, not for any potential future as an active airfield.