Built for the Eighth Air Force in 1942, Rattlesden had three concrete runways, 50 hardstandings and two dispersed T2 hangars. Intended to be a twin-engine B-26 bomber base, it was originally a satellite for nearby Rougham, and first occupied from December 1942 to April 1943 by ground personnel of the 322nd Bomb Group. After an exchange of airfields between the 3rd and 4th Bomb Wings, it was eventually occupied in November 1943 by the 447th Bomb Group equipped with four-engine B-17 bombers. The group returned to the USA in July 1945 after which the station returned to the RAF. It was used briefly as a Ministry of Food buffer depot but closed in 1946. Part of the site was used as a Bristol Bloodhound missile base by the RAF during the 1960s, but the whole airfield was sold in 1967-68 and mostly returned to agriculture. The Rattlesden Gliding Club was established in 1976, uses the wartime Control Tower as its club house and operates on the north east part of the airfield.