East Common just outside the village of Seaton Ross was requisitioned for use as a grass airfield in November 1940.

In late 1940 the airfield was used by Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys of 10 Squadron as a relief landing ground for RAF Leeming.

This made the airfield a popular diversion for other squadrons returning from operations to Yorkshire in extreme bad weather conditions.

In May 1945 the airfield was transferred to RAF Transport Command and 575 Squadron moved in with the Douglas Dakota.

[6] The airfield strip is now home to Melbourne Raceway running drag racing under the organisation of Straightliners.