RAF Westhampnett

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
Coordinates 50°51′40″N 000°45′33″W / 50.86111°N 0.75917°W / 50.86111; -0.75917Coordinates: 50°51′40″N 000°45′33″W / 50.86111°N 0.75917°W / 50.86111; -0.75917
Type Royal Air Force station
Site information
Owner Air Ministry
Operator Royal Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
Site history
Built 1938 (1938)
In use 1938-1946 (1946)
Battles/wars Second World War
Garrison information
Garrison 31st Fighter Group
Airfield information
Elevation 31 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]

RAF Westhampnett was a Royal Air Force 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

Royal Air Force use

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. 1 2 3 Jefford 2001, p. 59.
  9. Jefford 2001, p. 61.
  10. Jefford 2001, p. 64.
  11. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 Jefford 2001, p. 92.
  21. Jefford 2001, p. 94.
  22. Jefford 2001, p. 95.
  23. Jefford 2001, p. 98.
  24. 1 2 3 Jefford 2001, p. 100.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Westhampnett (Chichester) (Goodwood)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  26. Maurer 1980, p. 85.

Bibliography

  • Jefford, C.G, MBE, BA, RAF (Retd). 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.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.