Former RAF Finmere

 airport, Second World War 1939-1945, abandoned / shut down, RAF - Royal Air Force, draw only border, historical layer / disappeared object, former air force base

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The War Department built a military airfield south of Finmere and Tingewick in 1941-42, which was commissioned in July 1942 as RAF Finmere. It served as an Bomber Command operational training unit, flying Bristol Blenheim medium bombers which by then were obsolete for combat operations and used only for training. They were eventually withdrawn from this role as well and from January 1944 the training unit at RAF Finmere flew de Havilland Mosquitoes. After the Second World War RAF Finmere served as a Transport Command storage depot until the 1950's, when it was decommissioned and closed as an RAF base.[8] Part of one runway remains in use as a private airfield. RAF Finmere is now Finmere Extreme Airsoft Regiment, games are regulary held there.

Since 1973 a Sunday market has been held on the area where the three concrete runways converge. Initially Buckinghamshire County Council opposed the market and had the operators convicted and fined for breaking the Shops Act 1950 that forbade most forms of retailing in England and Wales on Sundays. In 1974 Britain's local government reorganisation transferred responsibility for planning to Aylesbury Vale District Council, which in 1975 granted the market planning permission for three years and in 1976 extended that permission until 1981. In 1994 Parliament adopted the Sunday Trading Act which greatly reduced restrictions on Sunday retailing in England and Wales, and since then Finmere Market has been less busy. However, the former airfield is now also the venue of the annual Bicester Sheep Fair.