- RAF Westhampnett during the Second World War -
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RAF Westhampnett
Westhampnett was built as an emergency fighter landing, a satellite of RAF Tangmere. Both airfields are on the Goodwood Estate, then owned by the Duke of Richmond (an avid pilot and racing buff) Lord Richmond held on to the deed for the land, and after the war, converted the airport perimeter road into the famous Goodwood Motor Circuit, which opened in 1948. The control tower is now known as The`Control Tower Cafe.
Squadrons stationed at Westhampnett during the Second World War.
- 145 Squadron: July/August 1940;
- 610 Squadron: 15 Dec 1940 to 29th Aug 1941 & 20th Jan 1943 to 30th April 1943 & 27 Jun 1944 to 2 July 1944;
- 129 Squadron: August - November 1941;
- 167 Squadron: May - June 1943:
- 91 Squadron: June to October 1943.
July 1940 Polish, Czech and Belgian pilots arrive
20th August 1940 Move
29th August 1941 Move to the south
21st September 1941 C/O shot down
27th September 1941 Pilot taken PoW
7th October 1941 Ground attack role
13th October 1941 Two 129 Squadron Spitfires lost
28th October 1941 Lost in the Channel off Littlehampton
31st October 1941 Missing in Action
1st November 1941 Relocated
22nd December 1941 Move back to Westhampnett
6th July 1942 Moving on
7th November 1942 On the move
20th November 1942 Relocated
3rd January 1943 Aircraft carrier training
May 1943 Fighter Squadron relocated
10th June 1943 Two Spitfires lost
12th June 1943 Dutch Fighter Squadron designated
28th June 1943 Reorganisation
26th September 1943 Escort sortie
4th October 1943 Moved on
9th October 1943 2TAF Squadron relocated
10th October 1943 Relocated
26th October 1943 Pilot Missing in Action
19th November 1943 Missing at Sea
4th January 1944 Typhoon abandoned
6th January 1944 Typhoon pilot taken PoW
7th January 1944 Mid-air collision over France
January 1944 Rockets fitted to Typhoons
5th February 1944 Two pilots taken PoW
14th February 1944 Return to operations
14th February 1944 Pilot sheltered in occupied France for 6 months
14th February 1944 Long range sweep to the Loire
18th February 1944 Mosquitos bomb prison at Amiens
18th February 1944 Two Typhoons lost on Operation Jericho
February 1944 Squadron equipped with Rockets
6th March 1944 Crashed in the sea
16th March 1944 Ground attack operations
1st April 1944 Doodle Bugs
1st April 1944 On the move
23rd April 1944 Move again
28th April 1944 184 Squadron's first op in Typhoons
7th May 1944 Pilot parachuted into the Channel
13th May 1944 Ineffective exercises
19th May 1944 Hus-hust mission to Cherbourg
21st May 1944 Pilot taken PoW in Netherlands
25th May 1944 Pilot lost over railway target
2nd/3rd June 1944 Wrong target hit at Barfleur
5th June 1944 Briefing
6th June 1944 Steak and onions
7th June 1944 Three Typhoons shot down over Normandy
8th June 1944 No enemy activity seen
13th June 1944 Three sorties
14th June 1944 Landing strip in Normandy used
16th June 1944 Dust
17th June 1944 Move airbase
19th June 1944 Relocated
22nd June 1944 Shot down by friendly fire
24th June 1944 Missing over the Channel
27th June 1944 Relocated
28th June 1944 Move
9th August 1944 To Fighter Command
25th September 1944 Moving onIf you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
Those known to have served at
RAF Westhampnett
during the Second World War 1939-1945.
- Waghorn Bryan Dickson. Sgt (d.28th Oct 1941)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List
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Want to know more about RAF Westhampnett?
There are:63 items tagged RAF Westhampnett available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.
Sgt Bryan Dickson Waghorn 129 Squadron (d.28th Oct 1941)
Bryan Waghorn was the younger brother of Battle of Britain pilot Sgt Peter Waghorn. He flew the Spitfires of 129 squadron based at Westhampnett but unfortunately was lost over the English Channel on 28 October 1941, six months after his brother was killed flying his Hurricane in the defence of Malta. The brother's father, Harry Waghorn, had enlisted in the army in WW1, was commissioned and after being posted to Mesopotamia was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in Egypt. The photo shows the pilots of 129 Squadron at Westhampnett, possibly in September of 1941, with one of their Spitfires behind them.Ian Pursey
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