The airfield was built on or near the historic estate of Merryfield (alias Merrifield, Murefeld, Merefeld, Muryfield, Merifield, Wadham's Castle, etc.

), the former fortified manor house of which was situated about 1 mile west-north-west of the parish church of Ilton,[2] and immediately south of the present airfield, and of which only a moated site remains, in the middle of farmland.

Today a large grade II listed 19th century mansion called Merryfield House[4] is situated immediately south of St Peter's Church, Ilton.

[5] Work commenced late in 1942 and on 11 November the airfield was listed as one of 16 to be made available for the USAAF to meet the number of troop carrier groups projected for the UK.

All 50 hardstands were loop types in concrete with bituminous surfaces connecting to an enclosing perimeter track, of a standard width of 50 feet.

The 441st Troop Carrier Group moved in from RAF Langar on 25 April, with over 70 Douglas C-47 Skytrains dispersed on the airfield.

Until the outbreak of the Korean War and a resurgence of air power, civilian caretakers looked after the otherwise deserted airfield.

208 Advanced Flying School RAF (208 AFS)) with de Havilland Vampire and Gloster Meteor jets.

Some additional concrete was laid in front of the main technical site and other building work conducted before the station was again run down towards the end of 1954.

[6][7] Then came the Royal Navy with de Havilland Sea Venoms but they withdrew early in 1958 and by 1961 it appeared the airfield had finally been abandoned.

[6] In the 1980s, the site was considered as a storage area for nuclear waste, but this idea was rejected owing to local geology.

Local cycling clubs also hold races on the perimeter road circuit and runways, including Regional Championships.