RAF Chailey

Military obsolescence. RAF Chailey was a temporary Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) built specifically for the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Once the Allied forces had successfully established airbases in France following the invasion, forward airfields in the south of England like Chailey were no longer needed. The airfield was dismantled and the land was returned to its original agricultural use.

The site has been fully returned to agricultural land and is now comprised of several farm fields. There are no remaining visible traces of the runways, taxiways, or buildings from its time as an active airfield. The original layout is almost impossible to discern on the ground. A memorial stone was erected nearby on the A275 road to commemorate the Canadian airmen who served at RAF Chailey.

RAF Chailey was a significant, albeit short-lived, World War II airfield. It was constructed in 1943 as a temporary Advanced Landing Ground to support the upcoming Operation Overlord (D-Day). It was home to the Royal Canadian Air Force's No. 129 Airfield, which consisted of three squadrons: No. 401, 411, and 412 Squadrons (RCAF). Flying Supermarine Spitfire IXB fighters, these squadrons conducted crucial operations including fighter sweeps, dive-bombing missions, and bomber escorts over Northern France in the months leading up to and during the Normandy landings. The squadrons relocated to France in July 1944, and the airfield was officially closed shortly after.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening. The facility was entirely temporary, dismantled almost 80 years ago, and the land has been in private agricultural use ever since. Re-establishing an airport at this location is not feasible and has never been proposed.