▁stay ▁in ▁operation ▁with ▁rolling ▁le ases , ▁and ▁projects ▁to ▁upgrade ▁the ▁air ▁traffic ▁control ▁systems ▁in ▁September ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁ ▁The ▁air field ▁was ▁del ic ensed ▁and ▁ceased ▁to ▁be ▁registered ▁by ▁the ▁Civil ▁A viation ▁Author ity ▁on ▁ 3 1 ▁December ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁Not ▁through ▁lack ▁of ▁use , ▁nor ▁through ▁public ▁pressure ; ▁following ▁the ▁announ cement ▁of ▁intention ▁to ▁close ▁by ▁I ps wich ▁Bor ough ▁Council ▁in ▁late ▁September ▁ 1 9 9 6 , ▁there ▁were ▁pet itions ▁to ▁keep ▁the ▁site ▁as ▁an ▁operating ▁air port , ▁this ▁cul min ated ▁with ▁a ▁sit - in ▁which ▁started ▁on ▁ 1 ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 7 ; ▁the ▁last ▁aircraft ▁left ▁over ▁a ▁year ▁later ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁ ▁The ▁site ▁has ▁since ▁been ▁re develop ed ▁as ▁the ▁Rav ens wood ▁housing ▁estate ; ▁the ▁Gra de ▁II ▁listed ▁terminal ▁building ▁was ▁partly ▁demol ished ▁to ▁facil itate ▁its ▁conversion ▁into ▁a ▁community ▁centre ▁and ▁fl ats ▁by ▁Ash well ▁Property ▁Group . ▁Extern ally , ▁the ▁building ▁retain s ▁some ▁res embl ance ▁to ▁the ▁original ▁building . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Cit ations ▁ ▁Bibli ography ▁▁▁ ▁John ▁My ers c ough , ▁" A ir port ▁Pro vision ▁in ▁the ▁Inter - W ar ▁Years ", ▁Journal ▁of ▁Contempor ary ▁History ▁ 2 0 ▁( 1 9 8 5 ) ▁pp .   4 1 – 7