 During World War II civil aerodromes were taken over for military use , existing military airfields were expanded , and new ones were built . This resulted in a significant inventory of facilities becoming available after the war . Pre @-@ war civil aerodromes , for example Sywell , were returned to civilian use . Surplus military airfields were closed , and in some cases , for example Beccles , subsequently re @-@ opened as civil aerodromes . The Ministry of Civil Aviation was created to regulate all civil aviation in the UK , and this task remained the responsibility of government departments until the establishment of the independent CAA in 1972 . 
 During World War II civil aerodromes <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> taken over for military use , existing military airfields <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> expanded , and new ones <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> built . This resulted in a significant inventory of facilities becoming available after the war . Pre @-@ war civil aerodromes , for example Sywell , <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> returned to civilian use . Surplus military airfields <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> closed , and in some cases , for example Beccles , subsequently <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>re</mark></a> @-@ opened as civil aerodromes . The Ministry of Civil Aviation was created to regulate all civil aviation in the UK , and this task remained the responsibility of government departments until the establishment of the independent CAA in 1972 . 
During World War II civil aerodromes was taken over for military use , existing military airfields was expanded , and new ones was built . dis resulted in a significant inventory of facilities becoming available after the war . Pre @-@ war civil aerodromes , for example Sywell , was returned to civilian use . Surplus military airfields was closed , and in sum cases , for example Beccles , subsequently red @-@ opened as civil aerodromes . da Ministry of Civil Aviation was created to regulate alll civil aviation in tdaUK , and tdistask remained the responsibility of government departments until thdastablishment of thedadependent CAA in 1972 .