Goxhill

Airfield
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 bottom, barrack sites are top left, 8 June 1942. Photograph taken on sortie number RAF/UK753. English Heritage (RAF Photography). eh-627.jpg 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 bottom, barrack sites are top left, 8 June 1942. Photograph taken on sortie number RAF/UK753. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

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

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 496th Fighter Training Group 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19065678 / O-740137
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 496th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-886014
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 364th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 384th Fighter Squadron 554th Fighter Training Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18117289 / O-760436
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 82nd Fighter Squadron No 121 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885358
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 374th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20446120 / O-816630
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Snafuperman
  • Unit: 496th Fighter Training Group
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).'
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Clarkie
  • Unit: 365th Fighter Group 361st Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Rebel
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 78th Fighter Group 370th Fighter Squadron 551st Fighter Training Squadron 84th Fighter Squadron
Bomber crews from the 401st Bomb Group look over P-51 Mustang, FT-T, serial number 43-12172, of the 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, at Deenethorpe airfield. One of their B-17 Flying Fortresses is in the background. Printed caption on reverse of print: '...401st Bomb Group look over a North American P-51 Mustang at an 8th Air Force base in England, 27 December 1943.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Swedes Steed
  • Unit: 354th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 353rd Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 496th Fighter Training Group 555th Fighter Training Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucyMM
Changes
Sources

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Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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)

Goxhill: Gallery (26 items)