RAF Westhampnett

Coordinates: 50°51′40″N 000°45′33″W / 50.86111°N 0.75917°W / 50.86111; -0.75917
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For the current civilian use of this facility and airport information, see Chichester/Goodwood Airport.

RAF Westhampnett
USAAF Station AAF-352
Westhampnett, West Sussex in England
Aerial photograph of RAF Westhampnet, the technical site is to the right, 19 April 1946
RAF Westhampnett is located in West Sussex
RAF Westhampnett
RAF Westhampnett
Shown within West Sussex
Coordinates50°51′40″N 000°45′33″W / 50.86111°N 0.75917°W / 50.86111; -0.75917
TypeRoyal Air Force station
CodeWQ[1]
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
United States Army Air Forces 1942
Controlled byRAF Fighter Command
* No. 11 Group RAF
1938-42 & 1942-45
RAF Second Tactical Air Force
* No. 83 Group RAF
Site history
Built1938 (1938) & 1940
In useJuly 1940 - 1946 (1946)
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation33 metres (108 ft)[1] 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[2]

Royal Air Force Westhampnett or more simply RAF Westhampnett is a former Royal Air Force satellite station, located in the village of Westhampnett near Chichester, in the English County of West Sussex.

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[edit]

Royal Air Force use[edit]

Squadrons[edit]

Units[edit]

  • No. 83 Group Support Unit during November 1944[28]
  • No. 121 Airfield RAF between October 1943 and April 1944[29]
  • No. 144 (RCAF) Airfield RAF during April 1944[29]
  • No. 402 Air Stores Park between October 1943 and January 1944[30]
  • Detachment of No. 1493 (Fighter) Gunnery Flight between June and July 1943[31]
  • Air Sea Rescue Flight RAF, Merston/Westhampnett during November 1941[32]

United States Army Air Forces[edit]

Current use[edit]

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

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b Falconer 2012, p. 209.
  2. ^ Chichester/Goodwood - EGHR
  3. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 38.
  4. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 39.
  5. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 45.
  6. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 52.
  7. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 57.
  8. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 58.
  9. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 59.
  10. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 61.
  11. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 64.
  12. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 65.
  13. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 66.
  14. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 77.
  15. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 84.
  16. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 85.
  17. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 87.
  18. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 88.
  19. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 89.
  20. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 90.
  21. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 92.
  22. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 94.
  23. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 95.
  24. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 98.
  25. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 100.
  26. ^ "Westhampnett (Chichester) (Goodwood)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  27. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 1.
  28. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 161.
  29. ^ a b Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 46.
  30. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 58.
  31. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 125.
  32. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 53.
  33. ^ Maurer 1980, p. 85.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Falconer, J. (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
  • 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. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • 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.
  • Sturtivant, R.; Ballance, T. (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.
  • Sturtivant, R.; Hamlin, J. (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Westhampnett.
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