​​RAF Stoney Cross opened in 1942 and served both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force. The airfield was referred to as AAF-452 by the USAAF for security reasons.​ 

​The airfields consisted of three concrete runways from which combat bombers and fighter aircraft were operational. The aircraft that flew out of Stoney Cross airfield ranged from Mustangs to Lightnings and Hurricanes. Larger bombers and transport aircraft were also operational from here, such as Wellingtons, Liberators, Stirlings and Albermarles.​ 

​During the build-up to Operation Overlord, the D-Day Operation on 6 June 1944, training exercises flew from this airfield, particularly the crews of the British 6th Airborne Division who later took part in the Operation Tonga phase. Operation Tonga was the codename of the airborne operation undertaken by the Division between 5 June and 7 June 1944 as a part of Operation Overlord. 

​​Operations and also training exercises were dangerous. In December 1943, during a training exercise, a transport aircraft crashed near Winchester after taking off from Stoney Cross in bad weather, killing all those onboard. On 12 April 1944, Captain James Elvidge Peck of US 367th Fighter Group also died in an air crash following take off from Stoney Cross. Peck, formerly of RAF 121 (Eagle) Squadron, was highly decorated: he held an Air Medal, three Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War 2 Victory Medal, and Distinguished Flying Cross (British). He was flying a P-38 Lightning aircraft that suffered a mechanical failure, resulting in his death at age 22. 

​The locations of the three runways on the airfield can still be seen today. One is the road to the north running in an east to west direction. The other two havehad all the concrete removed but the existing grass strips give away the locations. Along the edges of the former runways, concrete housing for lighting strips can also be found. Around the edge of the airfield several concrete service roads still remain and numerous dispersal pans (places for aircraft to park when not in use). One of the large dispersal pan areas is now a location for motorhomes and caravans to park up. Numerous paths and routes can be taken around the former RAF Stoney Cross airfield.