Westhampnett

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Westhampnett airfield looking south, the technical site is to the left, 19 April 1946. Photograph taken by No. 138 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/156. English Heritage (RAF Photography). eh-530.jpg RAF_3G_TUD_UK_156_V_5324 Aerial photograph of Westhampnett airfield looking south, the technical site is to the left, 19 April 1946. Photograph taken by No. 138 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/156. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - RAF_3G_TUD_UK_156_V_5324 - Aerial photograph of Westhampnett airfield looking south, the technical site is to the left, 19 April 1946. Photograph taken by No. 138 Squadron,...

Acquired in 1938 as an Emergency Landing Ground for RAF Tangmere, Westhampnett was upgraded to satellite status in 1940. It had eventually three grass runways, 19 pan hardstandings, 32 small pens, and one T1 plus eight over-blister hangars. Occupied by RAF fighter squadrons until July 1942, it had been allocated to the Eighth Air Force in June 1942 and became the main home in July 1942 of the 31st Fighter Group, equipped with Spitfire Vs. Transferred to the Ninth Air Force in September 1942, that Group moved to North Africa in October 1942, after which P-38s of the 14th Fighter Group briefly used Westhampnett as a forward operating base. Again occupied by RAF fighter squadrons from November 1942, the station was re-allocated to the Eighth Air Force in July 1943, and transferred to the Ninth Air Force in October 1943, but was never again used by American squadrons. Closed in 1946, the airfield site was redeveloped to become in 1948 the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit, which closed in 1966. It was also redeveloped from 1958 to become the present-day Chichester Goodwood Airfield with two grass runways.

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: 31st Fighter Group 350th Fighter Group 309th Fighter Squadron 345th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-421583
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/Squadron Operations Officer/Assistant Group Ops Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 309th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32069963 / T-223045
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/ Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 309th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16034021 / O-437021
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 350th Fighter Group 308th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-401549
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/Squadron Commander

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: Spitfire
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 67th Observation Group 309th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: Spitfire
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 308th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: Spitfire
  • Unit: VIII Fighter Command 31st Fighter Group 309th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: Spitfire
  • Nicknames: Mary James
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 4th Fighter Group 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 309th Fighter Squadron 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Ninth Then and Now (London, 1994)

Chris Ashworth, Action Stations 5: Military Airfields of the South-West (London, 1982) +

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Westhampnett

http://ukga.com/airfield/chichester-goodwood

http://www.key.aero/view_article.asp?ID=6002

Westhampnett: Gallery (3 items)