The Second World War aces Wing Commander Douglas Bader, and the then inexperienced Johnnie Johnson were stationed at Tangmere in 1941.

In August 1918 it was sold to the US Government and turned over to the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps (USSC) as a training ground for US-built Handley-Page O/400, although almost none were completed by the time of the Armistice.

The Aviation Section of the American Expeditionary Forces (ASAEF) agreed to improve the airfield and constructed further hangars.

Additional units: In a memoir, Peter Townsend (noted Battle of Britain pilot and, post-war, romantically linked with Princess Margaret), recounts the arrival of 605 Squadron at Tangmere, just before the outbreak of war.

Townsend says that Things hummed at Tangmere Cottage, just opposite the guard room, where [605's commanding officer John Willoughby de Broke and his wife Rachel] kept open house.

With one chance in five of survival - not counting the burnt and the wounded - only a handful of us would come through.In 1939 the airfield was enlarged to defend the south coast against attack by the Luftwaffe, with Tangmere's only hotel and some houses being demolished in the process.

602 Squadron RAF) of Supermarine Spitfires was based at the satellite airfield at nearby Westhampnett, as the Battle of Britain began.

[20] The first, and worst, enemy raid on the station came on 16 August 1940 when hundreds of Junkers Ju 87 (Stuka) dive bombers and fighters crossed the English coast and attacked Tangmere.

The SOE used Tangmere Cottage, opposite the main entrance to the base to house and receive their agents.

Today he is commemorated by a plaque outside the former Bader Arms public house, now a Co-operative Food outlet in the village.

616 Squadron, which included Johnnie Johnson and Hugh Dundas, arrived at Tangmere in late February 1941.

For D-Day, the RAF created Airfield Headquarters units which transformed into wings to control multiple similar squadrons for offensive actions for eventual use in mainland Europe.

Many of those killed at the base, from both sides in conflict, are buried in the cemetery at St Andrew's Church, Tangmere, today tended by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

[73] The RAF High Speed Flight was re-formed here on 14 June 1946 and in September 1946, a world air speed record of 616 mph (991 km/h) was set by Group Captain Edward "Teddy" Mortlock Donaldson in a Gloster Meteor F.4; after his death in 1992, he was buried in St Andrew's Church.

In September 1953, Squadron Leader Neville Duke became holder of the world air speed record when he flew a modified Hawker Hunter prototype at 727.63 mph (1,170 km/h) – the 50th anniversary of this event was commemorated in 2003.

In the late 1950s flying was reduced to ground radar calibration under RAF Signals Command, upon the arrival of No.

[96] The station finally closed on 16 October 1970;[97] a single Spitfire flew over the airfield as the RAF ensign was lowered for the last time.

Tangmere Airfield Nurseries have built large glasshouses for the cultivation of peppers and aubergines.

Until 1983 37 acres (150,000 m2) of barracks, admin blocks and repair workshops remained derelict until bought by Seawards Properties Ltd. Housing soon spread around the airfield, and most RAF buildings were demolished.

[99] A campaign is currently underway to restore the control tower which has received local and national press coverage.

[100] The CIC are working with the local Aviation Museum, the University of Chichester and Sussex Police and with their architect have submitted a planning application for phase one of the project.

On display is the 'Star' Meteor flown by Teddy Donaldson when he set the World Air Speed Record in September 1946, breaking the 1,000 km/h barrier.

[101] A number of Oliver Bulleid's light pacific locomotives were named after Battle of Britain squadrons, stations, or commanders.