During the First World War a Royal Flying Corps landing ground existed near the Lincolnshire village of Goxhill.

[2] Goxhill was originally used as a barrage balloon site to protect the port of Hull and the Humber estuary.

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).

Typical of the temporary RAF station of that period, living quarters and mess facilities were 1 to 2 miles from the hangars and flight operations area for safety reasons.

[6][4] The USAAF used Goxhill as a training airfield for the rest of the war; several squadrons used it after their initial deployment to the UK, then moved on to a permanent facility for their operational missions.

The 78th Fighter Group came to England equipped with P-38s, 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.

[10] Goxhill airfield was leased to farmers for agricultural use until 29 January 1962, when it was finally sold by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

[11] Since the end of its military use, Goxhill airfield has remained remarkably intact, with a Mary Celeste feel about it.