Clifford F Armstrong

Military
media-18966.png UPL 18966 Clifford F. Armstrong (Armstrong family)

Added photo

Object Number - UPL 18966 - Clifford F. Armstrong (Armstrong family)

A 1938 graduate of Coeymans High School, Clifford Armstrong enlisted in the Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet in January 1942. Assigned to the 353rd Fighter Group / 352nd Fighter Squadron in England as a P-47 pilot. He flew fighter escort for 8th Air Force bombers or as a fighter-bomber in the strafing and bombing of tactical and strategic targets in the occupied territories as well as in Germany. He participated on missions providing air cover and close air support on D-Day, 6 June 1944 and afterwards in the Normandy invasion. Cliff completed 94 combat missions and was credited with 3 aerial and 2 ground kills of enemy aircraft, attaining the status of ace. He was promoted to Captain shortly before leaving active military activity in 1946. He continued serving his country in the Air National Guard, was a squadron operations officer and promoted to Major in 1952. Cliff left the ANG in 1958 and rejoined his brother Lester to operate their family farm in West Coxsackie, New York. Cliff was a 60-year member of the New Baltimore American Legion Post 1614 and a 60-year member of the Cornell Hook and Ladder. He passed away in March 2006.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 352nd Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 352nd Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Butch II
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 352nd Fighter Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

New York, New York State, United States 12 January 1920 the son of Joseph Armstrong Jr and Helena (Hough) Armstrong

Enlisted

Albany, New York, United States 14 January 1942 in the Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet, together with John Zolner, who was also assigned to the 353rd Fighter Group like him

Other

Crashed

Metfield, Harleston IP20, UK 5 April 1944 Taxiing Accident Metfield/Sta 366 Cat 3 damage, pilot Lt Clifford F Armstrong, 5-Apr-44. P-47D 42-75622 - 352FS 353FG 8AF

Other

Promotion

Raydon, Ipswich IP7, UK 17 June 1944 Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

Other

End Tour Duty (ETD)

30 June 1944 Ended Tour Duty (ETD).

Died

West Coxsackie, Greene County, New York, United States 23 March 2006
New Baltimore, Greene County, New York, United States

Buried

New Baltimore, NY, USA Chestnut Lawn Cemetery New Baltimore Greene County New York, USA.

Other

Assigned

Raydon, Ipswich IP7, UK 30 June 1944 Assigned to 352FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Promotion

Raydon, Ipswich IP7, UK Promoted to Captain.

Other

Promotion

United States Promoted to Major

Revisions

Date
Contributor-------
Changes
Sources

Armstrong was a member of the 352nd Fighter Squadron and not the 350th as stated.
353rd FG Records/friendship with Armstrong

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Selected key image

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Clifford F Armstrong: Gallery (3 items)