Castle Mill Airfield

The closure of the private Castle Mill airstrip was a decision by the private landowner, likely for economic reasons and to return the land to full agricultural use. The original RAF base was closed as part of the UK's post-WWII military demobilization and consolidation of airfields.

The specific area of the former Castle Mill airstrip has reverted to agricultural farmland, with faint outlines of the runway sometimes visible on satellite imagery. The broader site of the former RAF Twinwood Farm has been redeveloped into a multi-purpose venue. It now hosts the Twinwoods Adventure centre (featuring indoor skydiving and other activities), the Twinwood Museum (preserving the site's WWII history and the Glenn Miller connection), and is the location for the annual Twinwood Festival, a popular vintage music and dance event. Some original wartime buildings, taxiways, and sections of runway remain in various states of preservation or decay.

The site holds significant historical importance as the former location of RAF Twinwood Farm, a World War II airfield operational from 1941. It was used by RAF Bomber Command and later by the USAAF Eighth Air Force. Its most famous historical event is being the departure point for American big band leader Major Glenn Miller on his last-ever flight on December 15, 1944. The Noorduyn Norseman aircraft he was a passenger in disappeared over the English Channel, and its fate remains a mystery. After the war, the more recent and smaller 'Castle Mill Airfield' operated as a private grass airstrip for general aviation and light aircraft on a portion of the original military site before its own closure.

There are no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening Castle Mill Airfield for aviation. The land is privately owned and used for agriculture and the successful leisure/historical venues. Any reintroduction of aviation activity would likely conflict with the current land use and business operations on the site.