RAF Thorne

The closure was a result of the widespread post-World War II military drawdown. As a temporary wartime airfield, it was deemed surplus to the requirements of the downsized Royal Air Force, which consolidated its operations at more permanent and strategically located bases.

The former airfield site has been completely redeveloped. The most prominent feature is HMP & YOI Moorland, a large prison complex that occupies a significant portion of the original site. The remaining area is used for industrial estates and some agricultural land. While faint outlines of the former runways and taxiways can be seen in some undeveloped patches from the air, there are no remaining aviation facilities.

RAF Thorne was a significant Royal Air Force station during World War II. Opened in 1940, it initially served under No. 12 Group of Fighter Command, tasked with defending the industrial heartlands of South Yorkshire. It was later transferred to Bomber Command and then to Flying Training Command. The airfield is particularly notable for its association with Polish forces; it was home to several Polish squadrons, including the No. 307 'Lwów Eagle-Owls' Polish Night Fighter Squadron, operating Beaufighters and Mosquitoes. It also served as a training base for the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade before their involvement in Operation Market Garden. After the war, its role diminished significantly, being used primarily for storage and maintenance units before its eventual closure.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening RAF Thorne as an airport. The extensive redevelopment of the site, particularly the construction of a major prison and industrial parks, makes any future aviation use infeasible.