In 1947 it was re-opened with the Royal Air Force (RAF) Joint Anti-Submarine School training flight.

It closed again briefly in 1951 to allow works to be carried out for the arrival of the Avro Shackleton in 1952.

Further work was carried out in 1962 to prepare for the arrival of displaced Royal Navy (RN) units, following the closure of nearby RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), which was subsequently referred to by the Royal Navy as RNAS Ballykelly.

In 1964/65, a large hangar and workshops were completed to house Shackletons under cover.

The base was handed over to the British Army on 2 June 1971, when it re-opened as Shackleton Barracks.