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.

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