Kings Cliffe

Airfield
Captain Jack M. Ilfrey, one of the COs of the 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, at Kings Cliffe air base. He stands with other crew members beside P-38J Lightning (MC-O, serial number 43-28431), called "Happy Jack's Go Buggy". media-377007.jpg FRE 1439 Captain Jack M. Ilfrey, one of the COs of the 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, at Kings Cliffe air base. He stands with other crew members beside P-38J Lightning (MC-O, serial number 43-28431), called "Happy Jack's Go Buggy". Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1439 - Captain Jack M. Ilfrey, one of the COs of the 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, at Kings Cliffe air base. He stands with other crew members...

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

Clifford Kies

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-757274
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Anthony Adam Kublin

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32496380
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Armorer

Edward A Loetscher

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-825466
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Benjamin F McCarty

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-754528
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Durward Sylvester Miller

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38082650
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Crew Chief

Aircraft

44-13620

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron

44-13655

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron

44-13687

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Dizzy Rebel
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron

44-13715

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Little Lady
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Squadron

44-13746

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Its the Kid ! Little Sister
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Added alternative spelling 'Kingscliffe'.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978)

Kings Cliffe: Gallery (148 items)

First Lieutenant Thomas F. Hetherington of the 20th Fighter Group explains a manoeuvre to First Lieutenant Richard T. Stovall at Kings Cliffe air base, October 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'Lightnings Attack Northern France. Versatile P-38 Lightnings, flashing their power across the English Channel for the first time in a combat role, bring new serial phase into the European Theatre of Operations. Well-trained pilots - some of them already experienced in the other theatres of war - and ground

Object number: FRE 68 - First Lieutenant Thomas F. Hetherington of the...

Captain Carl E. Jackson and Technical Sergeant John P. Duffey, both of the 20th Fighter Group, confer with one another at Kings Cliffe air base, October 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'Lightnings Attack Northern France. Versatile P-38 Lightnings, flashing their power across the English Channel for the first time in a combat role, bring new serial phase into the European Theatre of Operations. Well-trained pilots - some of them already experienced in the other theatres of war - and ground crews s

Object number: FRE 69 - Captain Carl E. Jackson and Technical Sergeant...

Major Nathaniel B. Blanton of the 20th Fighter Group in front of P-38 Lightning at Kings Cliffe air base, October 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'Lightnings Attack Northern France. Versatile P-38 Lightnings, flashing their power across the English Channel for the first time in a combat role, bring new serial phase into the European Theatre of Operations. Well-trained pilots - some of them already experienced in the other theatres of war - and ground crews swear by their ships. From briefing room

Object number: FRE 70 - Major Nathaniel B. Blanton of the 20th Fighter...

Major Nathaniel B. Blanton, Major Robert Montgomery and Major David R. McGovern of the 20th Fighter Group stand with bicycle in front of P-38 Lightning at Kings Cliffe air base, while Lieutenant-Colonel Barton M. Russell, the Group's Commanding Officer, takes a photograph, October 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'Lightnings Attack Northern France. Versatile P-38 Lightnings, flashing their power across the English Channel for the first time in a combat role, bring new serial phase into the Europea

Object number: FRE 71 - Major Nathaniel B. Blanton, Major Robert...

First Lieutenant William K. Coon, First Lieutenant James M. Morris and First Lieutenant Evan J. Machen of the 20th Fighter Group consul a map (censored) at Kings Cliffe air base, October 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'Lightnings Attack Northern France. Versatile P-38 Lightnings, flashing their power across the English Channel for the first time in a combat role, bring new serial phase into the European Theatre of Operations. Well-trained pilots - some of them already experienced in the other th

Object number: FRE 72 - First Lieutenant William K. Coon, First Lieutenant...

Two officers of the 20th Fighter Group ride bicycles past a P-38 Lightning at Kings Cliffe air base, October 1943.

Object number: FRE 73 - Two officers of the 20th Fighter Group ride...

Colonel Barton M. Russell of the 20th Fighter Group at Kings Cliffe air base, October 1943. Printed caption attached to print: Picture shows:- Close-up of Col. B.M. Russell, Billings, Montana. U.S. Pool/SG/H. Keystone 52a-11.'

Object number: FRE 74 - Colonel Barton M. Russell of the 20th Fighter...

Group of 20th Fighter Group pilots run past a P-38 Lightning at Kings Cliffe air base, October 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'Lightnings Attack Northern France. Versatile P-38 Lightnings, flashing their power across the English Channel for the first time in a combat role, bring new serial phase into the European Theatre of Operations. Well-trained pilots - some of them already experienced in the other theatres of war - and ground crews swear by their ships. From briefing room to flying line, fr

Object number: FRE 75 - Group of 20th Fighter Group pilots run past a P-38...

Second Lieutenant Jack Martin, First Lieutenant Merle B. Nicholas, Second Lieutenant Thomas A. Hanzo and Second Lieutenant Marion F. Bench of the 20th Fighter Group rest on the handlebars of their bicycles in front of a P-38 Lightning at Kings Cliffe air base, October 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'Lightnings Attack Northern France. Versatile P-38 Lightnings, flashing their power across the English Channel for the first time in a combat role, bring new serial phase into the European Theatre of

Object number: FRE 76 - Second Lieutenant Jack Martin, First Lieutenant...

Major Nathaniel H. Blanton of the 20th Fighter Group speaks to a group of pilots at Kings Cliffe air base, October 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'Lightnings Attack Northern France. Versatile P-38 Lightnings, flashing their power across the English Channel for the first time in a combat role, bring new serial phase into the European Theatre of Operations. Well-trained pilots - some of them already experienced in the other theatres of war - and ground crews swear by their ships. From briefing roo

Object number: FRE 77 - Major Nathaniel H. Blanton of the 20th Fighter...

Pilots of the 20th Fighter Group mill around a P-38 Lightning at Kings Cliffe air base, October 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'Lightnings Attack Northern France. Versatile P-38 Lightnings, flashing their power across the English Channel for the first time in a combat role, bring new serial phase into the European Theatre of Operations. Well-trained pilots - some of them already experienced in the other theatres of war - and ground crews swear by their ships. From briefing room to flying line, f

Object number: FRE 78 - Pilots of the 20th Fighter Group mill around a P...

Technical Sergeant Floyd C. Cammon and Sergeant James H. Adams of the 20th Fighter Group at work on a P-38 Lightning at Kings Cliffe air base, October 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'Lightnings Attack Northern France. Versatile P-38 Lightnings, flashing their power across the English Channel for the first time in a combat role, bring new serial phase into the European Theatre of Operations. Well-trained pilots - some of them already experienced in the other theatres of war - and ground crews swe

Object number: FRE 79 - Technical Sergeant Floyd C. Cammon and Sergeant...