Goxhill
Airfield
IWM, English Heritage Collection
Object Number - RAF_UK753_V_0027 - Aerial photograph of Goxhill airfield looking north west, the control tower and technical site with two T2 hangars and a J-Type hangar is at the...
Goxhill opened in June 1941 as an RAF Bomber Command airfield, before being handed over to RAF Fighter Command in December. The Eighth Air Force took ownership in August 1942, and used the airfield, which they quickly dubbed 'Goat Hill' for operational training. Several different US Fighter Groups used the base for operational training before moving on to their permanent operational homes. These included the 78th Fighter Group, before it moved to Duxford. The airfield was handed back to the RAF in January 1945. It was officially closed in 1953. Several of the airfield’s structures remain today.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 361st Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 376th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17063962 / O-679804
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 350th Fighter Squadron 352nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12046115 / O-793481
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 355th Fighter Group 358th Fighter Group 358th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19103690
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron 2nd Gunnery & Tow Target Flight
- Service Numbers: 14034959 / T-223118
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 355th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 354th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14095150 / O-795880
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Aircraft
![P-38 Lightnings, including (serial number 41-7631) of the 1st Fighter Group at Goxhill. Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 20 Jul 1942.' [stamp] and '213031.' [censor no]. Printed caption on the reverse is damaged and is illegible.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-456762.jpg.webp?itok=pYkOSGk2)
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit: 1st Fighter Group 94th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit: 1st Fighter Group 94th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 479th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron 434th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Joan Swoose
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group Base Air Depot 1 362nd Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 496th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron
Revisions
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Manual (London, 2001)
Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978)
Bruce Barrymore Halpenny, Action Stations 2: Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands (Cambridge, 1984)
![A P-51B Mustang of the 354th Fighter Group at Goxhill, 1944. Handwritten on reverse: 'Foxhill - '44 - P-51B.' On reverse: P.H.T. Green [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-400795.jpg.webp?itok=dq3Y7ZDh)
![A P-38 Lightning of the 364th Fighter Group at Goxhill, 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Goxhill, '44, Lockheed P-38 Lightning, 364th Fighter Group.' On reverse: P.H.T. Green Collection [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-401003.jpg.webp?itok=ulhyj3ot)
![A-20C Havocs of the 496th Fighter Training Group fly low over Goxhill , 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Goxhill - '44 - Douglas A20C.' On reverse: P.H.T. Green Collection [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-401045.jpg.webp?itok=PwGRfv0O)
![A Spitfire Mk. Va (C7-M, serial number W3815) of the 555th Fighter Training Squadron, 496th Fighter Training Group at Goxhill, 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Goxhill - '44 - VAS Sptifire Va - W3815 - 496th Fighter Group USAF.' On reverse: P.H.T. Green Collection [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-401047.jpg.webp?itok=qbe-bN2W)
![A B-17F Flying Fortress (JJ-F, serial number 41-24615) nicknamed "Target for Tonite" of the 422nd Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Goxhill. '44. Boeing B-17F - 124615. 305th Bomb Group. Target For Tonite.' On reverse: P.H.T. Green Collection [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407703.jpg.webp?itok=JjfhUpsF)
![A B-17F Flying Fortress (JJ-F, serial number 41-24615) nicknamed "Target For Tonite" of the 305th Bomb Group at Goxhill. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Goxhill.'44. Boeing B-17F - 124615. 305th Bomb Group. Target For Tonite.' On reverse: P.H.T. Green Collection [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407710.jpg.webp?itok=SGbdVDZT)
![Sergeant Elwin D. Phillips, Lieutenant Sidney Hewitt, Staff Sergeant Michael Yahawk and a colleague, of the 361st Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group stand with Hewitt's P-47 Thunderbolt (QI-F, serial number 42-74702) nicknamed "Clarkie" at Goxhill. Handwritten caption on reverse: '"CLARIE" [sic] 361st Fighter Squadron, Pilot: Sid Hewitt. Standing (L-R) Sgt Elwin D Phillips (arm/ aut C/C) Pilot: lt Sidney Hewitt ? S/Sgt Michael Yahawk- eng (Crew Chief).'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377239.jpg.webp?itok=8qePrNbJ)
