Kings Cliffe
AirfieldIWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Kings Cliffe began as a satellite air base for the Group based at nearby Wittering. The 56th Fighter Group, however, were all based at Kings Cliffe and it was here that the pilots trained in P-47 Thunderbolts and flew their first missions in the aircraft.
The 56th Fighter Group moved on to Horsham St. Faiths in April 1943 and the air base was used by the RAF until August when another American Fighter Group, the 20th, moved in. This time, there was not sufficient accommodation for all of the Group's personnel at Kings Cliffe so when additional blocks were being built, some of them had living quarters at Wittering.
Kings Cliffe was the furthest west of any Eighth Air Force bases and this made long escort missions that much harder for the pilots.
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-001040
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31391978 / O-2063791
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17029483 / O-805570
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (US Strategic Air Forces)
- Service Numbers: 19096816 / O-746044
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot 1056 twin engine
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 77th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11023943 / O-754470
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Nicknames: Kentucky Kernel
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit: Base Air Depot 3 20th Fighter Group 474th Fighter Group 429th Fighter Squadron 77th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Nicknames: Kitty
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron