RAF Westhampnett

RAF Westhampnett was a Royal Air Force station, located in the village of Westhampnett near Chichester, in the English County of West Sussex.

RAF Westhampnett
USAAF Station AAF-352
Near Westhampnett, West Sussex in England
Aerial photograph of RAF Westhampnet, the technical site is to the right, 19 April 1946
RAF Westhampnett
Shown within West Sussex
Coordinates50°51′40″N 000°45′33″W
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
Site history
Built1938 (1938)
In use1938-1946 (1946)
Battles/warsSecond World War
Garrison information
Garrison31st Fighter Group
Airfield information
Elevation31 metres (102 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
06/24 855 metres (2,805 ft) Grass
10/28 613 metres (2,011 ft) Grass
14/32 1,300 metres (4,265 ft) Grass
Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]

It was built as an emergency landing airfield for fighter aircraft, as a satellite station to RAF Tangmere. Built on land belonging to the Goodwood Estate, the then landowner, the Duke of Richmond, Frederick Gordon-Lennox retained the Title Deed to the land.

History

Squadrons

Units

  • No. 83 Group Support Unit.[25]
  • No. 121 Airfield.[25]
  • No. 144 (RCAF) Airfield.[25]
  • No. 402 Air Stores Park.[25]
  • No. 1493 (Fighter) Gunnery Flight.[25]

United States Army Air Forces

Current use

Upon its closure by the RAF, Westhampnett airfield subsequently became the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit and Chichester/Goodwood Airport.

See also

References

Citations

  1. Chichester/Goodwood - EGHR
  2. Jefford 2001, p. 38.
  3. Jefford 2001, p. 39.
  4. Jefford 2001, p. 45.
  5. Jefford 2001, p. 52.
  6. Jefford 2001, p. 57.
  7. Jefford 2001, p. 58.
  8. Jefford 2001, p. 59.
  9. Jefford 2001, p. 61.
  10. Jefford 2001, p. 64.
  11. Jefford 2001, p. 65.
  12. Jefford 2001, p. 66.
  13. Jefford 2001, p. 77.
  14. Jefford 2001, p. 84.
  15. Jefford 2001, p. 85.
  16. Jefford 2001, p. 87.
  17. Jefford 2001, p. 88.
  18. Jefford 2001, p. 89.
  19. Jefford 2001, p. 90.
  20. Jefford 2001, p. 92.
  21. Jefford 2001, p. 94.
  22. Jefford 2001, p. 95.
  23. Jefford 2001, p. 98.
  24. Jefford 2001, p. 100.
  25. "Westhampnett (Chichester) (Goodwood)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  26. Maurer 1980, p. 85.

Bibliography

  • Hillier, Mark (2015). A Fighter Command Station at War: A Photographic Record of RAF Westhampnett from the Battle of Britain to D-Day and Beyond. Barnsley: Frontline Books. ISBN 978-1-47384-468-1.
  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Maurer, M. Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. USAF Historical Division. Washington D.C., USA: Zenger Publishing Co., Inc, 1980. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
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