Langford Lodge Air Base

The closure was a direct result of the end of World War II. As a purpose-built wartime base, its primary function was to support the Allied war effort. With the cessation of hostilities, the large-scale need for aircraft assembly, modification, and repair in the UK diminished, leading to the withdrawal of USAAF forces and the subsequent demobilization and closure of the base.

The site is now a privately owned industrial estate and testing facility. A significant portion of the former airbase, including one of the main runways, is owned and operated by the Martin-Baker Aircraft Company. They are a world leader in the design and manufacture of ejection seats and use the runway for high-speed sled testing of their life-saving equipment. Other parts of the old airfield's perimeter tracks and runways are used as a motorsport venue known as the Langford Lodge Circuit, hosting car and motorcycle racing events. The site is also used for general automotive testing and development. It is not a public airport and access is restricted.

Langford Lodge holds immense historical significance as one of the most important Allied air depots of World War II. Constructed in 1941 and opened in 1942, it was designated USAAF Station 597. It served as the Base Air Depot No. 2 (BAD 2) for the Eighth Air Force. Its primary and crucial role was the receipt, assembly, and modification of American aircraft that were shipped to the UK. The Lockheed Overseas Corporation operated a massive facility on-site, employing thousands of local civilian workers to uncrate and prepare vast numbers of aircraft, including P-38 Lightnings, B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-24 Liberators, and B-26 Marauders, for combat service. It was the largest and most vital USAAF depot outside of the continental United States, acting as a critical logistical hub that ensured a steady flow of combat-ready aircraft for the strategic bombing campaign against Germany.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Langford Lodge as a public or military airport. Its current, long-standing use as a critical private industrial and high-speed testing facility for the Martin-Baker company, combined with its use for motorsport, makes any conversion back to an active airfield highly improbable.