Retford Gamston Airport is a small English airport, located south of Retford and close to Gamston, Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire. It is used mainly for small private aircraft as well as a base for several private flying schools. Two AOC-holders, IAS Medical and Diamond Executive Aviation, are also based on the airfield. Retford (Gamston) Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P783) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Gamston Aviation Limited). History Gamston airport was originally built as a Royal Air Force aerodrome with three runways in a triangular configuration (of which only one remains in common usage), and came into service in December 1942. It was part of the RAF Flying Training Command as well as a satellite to RAF Ossington, to the south. In May 1943 the field was transferred to No. 93 Group RAF, Bomber Command Training. In June the same year No. 82 Operational Training Unit arrived with Wellington Mk. III and Mk. X bombers, Miles Martinets (used as target tugs) and Hawker Hurricanes. A year later the unit became No. 86 Operational Training Unit with a new role; night training for Wellington bomber crews. By October 1944, Gamston was transferred to No. 7 Group RAF, Bomber Command. A month later No. 3 Aircrew School transferred from RAF Shepherds Grove. 1945 saw the disbanding of No. 3 Aircrew School and the arrival of No. 30 Operational Training Unit transferred from RAF Hixon, Staffordshire with more Wellington bombers. After the end of the Second World War all training ceased and the airfield was closed. In May 1953 Gamston reopened as a satellite for nearby RAF Worksop and No. 211 Advanced Flying School RAF (later No. 4 Flying Training School) was based there, flying Gloster Meteors and de Havilland Vampires. The airport is today owned and operated by Gamston Aviation Limited which purchased the operation in July 1993. In 1975 gliding activities began on the western side of the airfield, using runway 15/33 (now 14/32). Gliding ran alongside powered flying activities for almost 20 years until the gliding club were asked to move away from the airfield in 2005, after safety concerns due to the proximity of powered flights to the gliders. In 2021 the airport was bought by Thatcham Research, in order to carry out motor industry testing on the site. Thatcham said that aviation activities