RAF Bentwaters

The closure was a direct result of the end of the Cold War. The collapse of the Soviet Union led to a major strategic review and a significant drawdown of United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). With the diminished threat, the strategic need for a large forward-operating fighter base at this location was eliminated, leading to its deactivation as part of wider US and UK defense cuts.

The site was sold into private ownership and has been redeveloped as 'Bentwaters Parks'. It is now a thriving business park and industrial estate, with many of the original military buildings, including the hardened aircraft shelters, repurposed for commercial use such as storage, workshops, and data centers. The site is also a major filming location for movies (e.g., 'Fast & Furious 6'), television shows, and commercials, utilizing its vast runway and military aesthetic. A significant portion of the site is dedicated to the Bentwaters Cold War Museum, which is housed in the former command post and preserves the base's history. A section of the main runway is maintained and operates as a private, unlicensed airfield known as Bentwaters Airfield (ICAO: EGVJ), used by light aircraft with prior permission.

RAF Bentwaters was a key Anglo-American airbase with significant Cold War history. Opened in 1944 for RAF Bomber Command, its primary role began in 1951 when it was taken over by the USAF. For over 40 years, it formed the 'twin base' complex with nearby RAF Woodbridge and was home to the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing. The base hosted a succession of fighter aircraft, including the F-84 Thunderjet, F-101 Voodoo, F-4 Phantom II, and most famously, the A-10 Thunderbolt II 'Warthog'. As a frontline NATO base, it had a critical tactical nuclear strike role, evidenced by its numerous Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HAS) and a high-security Weapon Storage Area (WSA). The base is also world-famous for its connection to the 'Rendlesham Forest Incident' of December 1980, a series of reported UFO sightings that is often referred to as 'Britain's Roswell'. The base's A-10s were the last aircraft to fly from Bentwaters, participating in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 before the wing's inactivation.

There are no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening RAF Bentwaters as a major commercial or military airport. The site has been successfully and extensively redeveloped into a private commercial park with numerous established tenants. Reverting it to a full-scale airport would be economically unfeasible and require the displacement of the current businesses. The existence of the small, private Bentwaters Airfield (EGVJ) represents the only ongoing aviation activity, but a full-scale reopening is considered highly unlikely.