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
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (20th Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: O-357600
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot 1056 multi-engine. Group Commander
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-686021
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 65th Fighter Wing 56th Fighter Group 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron 62nd Fighter Squadron 63rd Fighter Squadron Headquarters (56th Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: O-393204
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot; Commanding Officer; Assistant Director Intelligence
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38087592
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Crew Chief
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-721554
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Kentucky Kernel V Puddin Danny Boy
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 356th Fighter Group 359th Fighter Squadron 79th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Pat
- Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Sizzlin Liz
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron 77th Fighter Squadron