In following US military convention airfields were allocated station numbers by the USAAF during World War Two. Although there was a preliminary system in place for the issueing of these numbers, the complexity of the build up and the split up of the 8th Air Force into the 8th and 9th Air Force lead to a breakdown in the numbering system.

As a means of saving fuel most wartime airfields were located on the south eastern side of Britain to be as close as possible to the enemy. The 8th US Air Force used bases from Norfolk and Suffolk. The 9th US Air Force used bases from Essex for bomber and fighter groups. Troop carrier groups used bases in the south. There were also very short lived bases in the south east used as advanced landing grounds.