The airfield had three intersecting concrete runways, perimeter track and, for USAAF use, hardstands for fifty aircraft and two dispersed, black-painted T-2 hangars.

In June 1943, it was decided that the B-26 groups would be better placed to conduct operations from airfields further south and an exchange of bases with the B-17-equipped 4th Bombardment Wing in Essex was arranged.

Rattlesden, however, remained without a combat unit until the 447th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrived from Harvard AAF Nebraska on 29 November 1943.

During the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-January 1945, the group assaulted marshalling yards, railroad bridges, and communications centers in the combat zone.

The group returned to Drew AAF Florida in August 1945, its personnel relieved from active duty and aircraft sent to storage.

At Drew AAF the 447th was redesignated as the "447th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)" and allocated to Strategic Air Command w/o/p/e as a reserve unit.

For a short while it was used by the RAF for basic training and then as a Ministry of Food buffer depot but was finally inactivated on 15 August 1946.

In the 1960s part of the site was used for RAF Bristol Bloodhound surface to air missiles but when this was abandoned the whole airfield was sold during 1967/68.