The site, known as Machrihanish Aerodrome and Mooring Out Station, extended to 65 acres (26 hectares) and comprised timber and canvas Bessonneau hangars and Armstrong huts.

[4] After closure, Machrihanish was retained by the FAA on a care and maintenance basis, until 1 December 1951 when it was reopened as a satellite of HMS Sanderling (now Glasgow Airport).

It was used for a short period for training FAA pilots in preparation for their involvement in the Korean War aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable, before again being reduced to care and maintenance status on 30 September 1952.

[7][8] In April 1959, it was announced that the airfield would be upgraded in order to support United States and NATO operations in the Clyde area and wider Atlantic.

[9] Paid for by NATO, the station underwent extensive redevelopment in the early 1960s, with land belonging to seven farms and six small holdings being acquired for the purpose.

The NAWF comprised a fenced compound located on the north-west side of the airfield, within which were three rows of flat roofed concrete sheds (known as igloos) about 161m long.

The rows were sub-divided into compartments featuring air-tight doors and were designed for the storage of nuclear depth charges and atomic demolition munitions, for use in anti-submarine warfare.

The main building featured offices, debriefing areas, armoury, sound proof room, internal 25m firing range and garage.

[18] The draw-down of US military forces in Europe after the end of the Cold War resulted in the US Navy leaving Machrihanish and returning their facilities to the Ministry of Defence on 30 June 1995.

[10][19] After the departure of the US Navy, the station became known as Ministry of Defence (MOD) Machrihanish and was placed under a care and maintenance regime, meaning that although no longer in active use, it would be kept in a condition whereby it could be reactivated within a reasonable time-scale.

[20] In March 1996, the Civil Aviation Authority granted Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. (HIAL) an aerodrome licence which allowed commercial flights to operate from the airfield.

Supported by Highlands & Island Enterprise, the Scottish Government and Argyll & Bute Council, MACC have made available parts of the site for commercial use with the aim of creating a sustainable future for the Campbeltown area.

[28] Machrihanish's station badge, awarded in 1975, features a silver Scottish sword known as a claymore, with the blade displayed against the backdrop of four waves representing the sea.

[29][30] The rumours led to a parliamentary question by Llew Smith MP, where in response the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Nicholas Soames MP, denied that any prototype aircraft belonging to the US was operating from Machrihanish:[31] Mr Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Aurora prototype aircraft of the United States Air Force are based at the Machrihanish air force base in Argyll; and for what period permission has been given for basing these aircraft in the United Kingdom.