RAF Wigsley

The primary reason for closure was the massive military drawdown after World War II. As a temporary wartime airfield, RAF Wigsley was deemed surplus to the peacetime requirements of the Royal Air Force and was no longer needed for operational or training purposes.

The former airfield is now in private hands and has largely reverted to agricultural use, with a large piggery operating on the site. The three concrete runways, perimeter track, and some taxiways are still largely intact but are in a state of decay. Several original wartime buildings survive, including the Grade II listed control tower and two T2-type hangars, which are used for farm storage. The site is used on a private, unlicensed basis for light aircraft operations (hence the ICAO designator) and by model aircraft enthusiasts. It is a well-preserved example of a WWII bomber base, though not publicly accessible.

RAF Wigsley was a significant World War II airfield, constructed as a standard Class A bomber base and opened in 1942. It operated under No. 5 Group of RAF Bomber Command. Its most crucial role was as a Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) base. No. 1654 HCU was formed here to train aircrews converting from twin-engine bombers (like the Wellington) to the four-engine Avro Lancaster, preparing them for front-line service. The station also hosted operational bomber squadrons at various times, including No. 455 Squadron (RAAF) flying Handley Page Hampdens, and later, Lancaster squadrons such as No. 61, No. 83, and No. 97. These squadrons participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. After the war, the airfield was used to store surplus de Havilland Mosquito aircraft.

There are no known official plans or serious prospects for reopening RAF Wigsley as a licensed commercial or general aviation airport. Its current agricultural use, the deteriorated state of the infrastructure, and its proximity to other active airfields make a full-scale reopening highly unlikely.