RAF Winthorpe

The closure was a direct result of the end of World War II. With the war over, the UK underwent a massive military drawdown, and a large number of temporary wartime airfields like RAF Winthorpe were deemed surplus to requirements. It was not closed due to any accident or specific economic failure, but as part of a planned, nationwide reduction of military infrastructure.

The site of the former RAF Winthorpe has been extensively redeveloped and is now used for multiple purposes. A large portion of the site is occupied by the Newark and Nottinghamshire Showground, which hosts numerous events, including one of Europe's largest antiques fairs. Another significant part of the former airfield is home to the Newark Air Museum, which preserves aviation heritage and has a collection of over 90 aircraft and cockpit sections, fittingly located on the historic site. Some of the original runways and perimeter tracks have been removed or repurposed as internal roads for the showground and industrial estates, while other areas have been returned to agriculture. Remnants of the airfield's layout are still visible from the air.

RAF Winthorpe was a significant training base during World War II, primarily associated with RAF Bomber Command's No. 5 Group. It opened in September 1940. Its most critical role was as a Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU). It was home to No. 1661 HCU, which was responsible for training aircrews converting from twin-engine bombers (like the Wellington) to the four-engine heavy bombers they would fly on operations, such as the Short Stirling, Handley Page Halifax, and most famously, the Avro Lancaster. This final stage of training was vital for the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. After active flying operations ceased in 1945, the airfield was used by No. 244 Maintenance Unit for the storage and eventual scrapping of surplus aircraft, including de Havilland Mosquitoes, before its final disposal.

There are no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening RAF Winthorpe as a functional airport. The site has been permanently and extensively redeveloped for commercial, recreational, and heritage use. The original infrastructure is largely gone, and the land is divided among multiple owners, making any project to reinstate it as an airfield economically and logistically infeasible.