The airfield was built between 1940 and 1942 for
No. 1 Group RAF, its first residents were the
No. 460 Squadron RAAF. From 1959 to 1963, as part of
Project Emily, the base was a launch site for three nuclear-armed
PGM-17 Thor intermediate-range ballistic missiles, operated by
No. 240 Squadron RAF. The base closed in March 1964, when the last active unit (which operated the
Bristol Bloodhound air-defence missile) withdrew.
Squadrons Units •
No. 20 Blind Approach Training Flight RAF (October 1941) became
No. 1520 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF (October 1941 - June 1944) • Sub site for
No. 35 Maintenance Unit RAF (November 1945 - June 1951) • Relief Landing Ground for
No. 103 Flying Refresher School RAF (June - November 1951) • Relief Landing Ground for
No. 207 Advanced Flying School RAF (November 1951 - June 1954) • No. 460 Conversion Flight RAF (May - August 1942 & September - October 1942) became 'A' Flight of
No. 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF (October - November 1942) •
No. 2716 Squadron RAF Regiment •
No. 2797 Squadron RAF Regiment ==Current use==