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

Dan D Oxley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-760377
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Baxter M Phillips

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-826762
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Edward F Pogue

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-721515
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Benjamin Neale Rader

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-753734/16071A
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot 1056 twin engine

Edward A Roy

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Armourer

Aircraft

44-13748

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Little Freddy
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron
An airman of the 20th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang nicknamed "Happy Jack's Go Buggy", flown by Jack Ilfrey. Handwritten on slide: "unknown officer not JACK ILFREY" Printed on slide: "JOHN M. CAMPBELL ARCHIVES"

44-13761

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Happy Jack's Go Buggy
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron

44-13775

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: That's all Brother
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron

44-13791

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Okie Bloke IV Guardian Angel
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron

44-13836

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: It's The Kid Geronimo Jr
  • 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)

Ground crew of the 20th Fighter Group 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 swear by their ships. From briefing room to flying line,

Object number: FRE 80 - Ground crew of the 20th Fighter Group work on a P...

Armorers of the 20th Fighter Group load a P-38 Lightning with ammunition 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 fly

Object number: FRE 81 - Armorers of the 20th Fighter Group load a P-38...

Captain George Wemyss explains a manoeuvre to First Lieutenant Richard T. Bund, First Lieutenant Terry M. Williams and First Lieutenant William J. Kermes of the 20th Fighter Group, 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

Object number: FRE 82 - Captain George Wemyss explains a manoeuvre to...

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 ride bicycles 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 -

Object number: FRE 83 - Second Lieutenant Jack Martin, First Lieutenant...

20th Fighter Group pilots in the Briefing Room 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, from runways to

Object number: FRE 84 - 20th Fighter Group pilots in the Briefing Room at...

Second Lieutenant Mack D. Fall, seated in cockpit, and Second Lieutenant William Gall, both pilots with the 20th Fighter Group 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 85 - Second Lieutenant Mack D. Fall, seated in cockpit...

Colonel Barton M. Russell and Major David R. McGovern of the 20th Fighter Group 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 86 - Colonel Barton M. Russell and Major David R...

Major Paul A. Lobingier and Colonel Barton M. Russell of the 20th Fighter Group study 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 theatres of war - and ground crews swear by their sh

Object number: FRE 87 - Major Paul A. Lobingier and Colonel Barton M...

Pilots of the 20th Fighter Group in flying gear hitch a lift on a jeep at Kings Cliffe air base, November 1943.

Object number: FRE 88 - Pilots of the 20th Fighter Group in flying gear...

Technical Sergeant B.C. Brown (left) and Staff Sergeant Robert Asher of the 20th Fighter Group at work on an Allison engine of a P-38 Lightning at Kings Cliffe air base, November 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'Associated Press photo shows: T/Sgt. B.C. Brown (left), of Kaweah, California, and S/Sgt. Robert Asher, of Beverley, Kentucky. Sparks and Crew Chief go over an Allison engine. WOR 262256 121143Y'

Object number: FRE 89 - Technical Sergeant B.C. Brown (left) and Staff...

Ground crew of the 20th Fighter Group with drop tanks for P-38 Lightnings, at Kings Cliffe air base, November 1943.

Object number: FRE 90 - Ground crew of the 20th Fighter Group with drop...

Airmen of the 20th Fighter Group jump on bicycles to head over to the aircraft 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 91 - Airmen of the 20th Fighter Group jump on bicycles...