 Although complete by September 1943 Winkton opened in March 1944 with Sommerfeld Mesh runways and pierced steel planking perimeter tracks, and was the prototype for the type of temporary Advanced Landing Ground type airfield that would be built in France after D-Day, when the need for advanced landing fields would become urgent as the Allied forces moved east across France and Germany.It was used by British, Dominion and the United States Army Air Forces.It was closed in July 1944, when the mesh runways were lifted for use on the Continent, and immediately returned to agriculture.