USAAF Use
The airfield was relegated to satellite field use by RAF Kirmington until August 1942, when it was taken over by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). The transfer ceremony was attended by General Dwight D. Eisenhower. During World War II it was known as USAAF Station 345.
The facilities at Goxhill, however, had a lot to be desired. Three wooden barracks were supplemented by a number of metal fabricated buildings (aka: tin cans) for living quarters. Typical of the temporary RAF station of that period, living quarters and mess facilities were 1 – 2 miles from the hangars and flight operations area because of safety.
The station was unofficially known by the USAAF units based here as "GoatHill".
The USAAF used Goxhill as a training airfield though the balance of the war, with several squadrons using it after their initial deployment to the UK, then moving on to a permanent facility for their operational missions.
Both the USAAF 8th and 9th Air Force utilized Goxhill. Units which trained here were:
| Group | Aircraft | Date Arrived | Date Departed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Fighter Group | P-38 Lightning | 10 June 1942 | 24 August 1942 |
| 52d Fighter Group | P-39 Airacobra | 26 August 1942 | 9 November 1942 |
| 78th Fighter Group | P-38 Lightning P-47 Thunderbolt |
1 December 1942 | 6 April 1943 |
| 353d Fighter Group | P-47 Thunderbolt | 7 June 1943 | 3 August 1943 |
| 356th Fighter Group | P-47 Thunderbolt | 27 August 1943 | 5 October 1943 |
| 358th Fighter Group | P-47 Thunderbolt | 20 October 1943 | 29 November 1943 |
| 496th Fighter Training Group | P-51 Mustang and P-38 Lightning | 25 December 1943 | 15 February 1945 |
The 496th Fighter Group was a Combat Crew Replacement Center for 8th and 9th USAAF units. It consisted of the 554th Fighter Squadron with P-38s and the 555th Fighter Squadron with P-51s. The group trained over 2,400 fighter pilots during its existence. The 78th Fighter Group came to England equipped with P-38's but had all of its aircraft and most of its pilots sent to the Twelfth Air Force in February 1943, after which it flew P-47 Thunderbolts.
Read more about this topic: RAF Goxhill