The training area occupies the larger part of the former RAF Sculthorpe, a military airbase used by RAF bombers in the later stages of the Second World War (1942–45), by United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) units from 1952 to 1962, and thereafter temporary visiting airmen and support crews of both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and United States Air Force (USAF) until its closure as an active airfield on 2 October 1992 (1992-10-02).

The work involved construction of the concrete runways, dispersals site, mess facilities, and accommodation.

464 Squadron RAAF taking up residence, with their Lockheed Ventura aircraft having moved from RAF Methwold, before converting at Sculthorpe onto the de Havilland Mosquito.

The wing stayed at Sculthorpe, completing more than 100 missions, before departing for RAF Hunsdon in Hertfordshire on 31 December 1943.

In April 1944, the 803rd and 214 Squadron departed for RAF Oulton, leaving Sculthorpe empty for its redevelopment as a 'very heavy bomber base', with the work not being completed until the spring of 1946.

Later, the 81st Fighter-Bomber Wing (81st FB Wg) was provided a nuclear capability and assigned to the operational control of the 49th Air Division.

The Soviet Union's enormous conventional force in eastern Europe posed a major problem for NATO, due to the Soviets' maintaining high personnel levels after World War II, when most of the American and British forces had demobilised.

To counter this Soviet threat to Western Europe, NATO decided to expand their tactical nuclear force by introducing the North American B-45 Tornado to the United Kingdom.

With the inactivation of the 47th, Sculthorpe was put under the command of the 7375th Combat Support Group, the 7375th was later replaced by the Detachment 1, 48th Tactical Fighter Wing.

Following the inactivation of the 47th BW in 1962, no aircraft were permanently based at RAF Sculthorpe, although it regularly hosted visiting units.

[11] Between May and June 1978, 18 Republic F-105D Thunderchiefs from 465th TFS, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma were deployed to Sculthorpe under Coronet Oriole.

[2] However, the airfield itself, together with the dispersed secure weapon storage area, was retained by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and continues to be used by the USAF 352nd Special Operations Wing based at RAF Mildenhall, to perform training in low flying airdrops and rescue and recovery missions.

The remaining technical site including barrack blocks, post exchange (PX), church, guardroom, gymnasium, community centres, and extensive storage and industrial units were sold, and are now known as Tattersett Business Park.

It features many Sculthorpe-related items and has parts of a Douglas RB-66 Destroyer including its Allison J71 jet engine, which is the only known surviving example in the country.

[23] Queen Elizabeth II made a private visit to the centre and met the curator and volunteers in February 2022.