RAF Hethel

The primary reason for closure was the end of World War II, which led to a massive military drawdown. Like many other airfields built for the war effort, RAF Hethel was deemed surplus to the peacetime requirements of the Royal Air Force.

Since 1966, the former airfield has been the headquarters, factory, and primary test track for the British sports car manufacturer, Lotus Cars. The company adapted the original runways and perimeter tracks to create a 2.2-mile (3.5 km) test circuit, which is still used for developing and testing their vehicles. Many of the original wartime buildings, including hangars and the control tower, have been incorporated into the modern Lotus facility, preserving a tangible link to the site's aviation past.

RAF Hethel holds significant historical importance as a World War II heavy bomber station. Constructed in 1942, it was designated as USAAF Station 114 and became a key base for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force. It was the home of the 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy), which flew B-24 Liberator bombers as part of the 2nd Air Division. The group conducted numerous strategic bombing missions against targets in Nazi-occupied Europe, including industrial sites, V-weapon facilities, and airfields. The 389th was distinguished for its participation in Operation Tidal Wave, the daring low-level raid on the oil refineries at Ploiești, Romania, in August 1943, for which it was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation. After the USAAF departed in mid-1945, the station was briefly used by RAF Fighter Command before being placed under care and maintenance and ultimately closed.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening RAF Hethel as an airport. The site is fully integrated into the global operations of Lotus Cars as their main production and engineering hub. The infrastructure has been extensively modified for automotive testing and manufacturing, making a conversion back to a functional airport highly improbable and economically unfeasible.