A Second World War and Cold War Military airfield. RAF Bentwaters was established in 1944. In that year it was used by 11 Fighter Group as a forward airfield. In 1944 the airfield was equipped with three intersecting concrete runways, 50 grid type hard standings and two T-2 type hangars. Wartime construction methods typically involved the use of "temporary" building materials for many types of buildings. In the early 1950s it became an American Fighter- Bomber base and remained in American hands until the early 1990s. It was modernised in the 1970s, including the addition of protected hardened aircraft shelters, command post, aircraft decontamination centre, a fire station, pillboxes and fuel tender sheds. Although deserted, when visited by English Heritage in the year 2000 the base appeared to be little altered since the departure of the Americans. In 2003 it was announced that a "Bentwaters Cold War Museum" was planned for the site.