RAF Chetwynd

The closure was a direct result of the post-World War II military drawdown. As the war ended, the vast requirement for pilot training and aircraft storage facilities diminished significantly. The airfield was deemed surplus to requirements during the subsequent restructuring and downsizing of the British armed forces.

The site is now known as Chetwynd Barracks and is an active training area for the British Army, primarily used by the 11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade. The original airfield layout, including the three runways and perimeter track, remains largely intact and is clearly visible from the air. This infrastructure is now used for military driver training, logistics exercises, and other non-aviation training purposes. Several of the original wartime hangars (Type T2 and Bellman) are still standing and are used for storage. The surrounding area is a mix of military training land and agriculture.

RAF Chetwynd opened in May 1941 as a satellite airfield for the larger RAF Ternhill. Its primary role during World War II was as a training facility. It was home to No. 11 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit ((P)AFU), which used aircraft like the Airspeed Oxford and Miles Master to provide advanced training for pilots transitioning to multi-engine bombers and transport aircraft. In August 1945, control of the airfield was transferred from the Royal Air Force to the Royal Navy and it was commissioned as RNAS Hinstock (a satellite of the main RNAS Hinstock base), also known by the naval name HMS Godwit II. In its naval capacity, it was used for aircraft maintenance, storage, and ferrying operations until its eventual closure.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening RAF Chetwynd as an airport. The site's current and ongoing use as an active military training area (Chetwynd Barracks) makes a return to aviation functionally impossible. The infrastructure, while visible, has not been maintained for aviation purposes for over 60 years.