Jack M Ilfrey

Military
media-28421.jpeg UPL 28421 Capt Jack Ilfrey 20th FG J Cook photo collection and archives

JCook Photo Collection & Archives

Object Number - UPL 28421 - Capt Jack Ilfrey 20th FG

Captain Jack M Ilfrey from Houston, Texas first arrived in the UK in 1942 with the 1st Fighter Group initially based at Goxhill and Kirton-in-Lindsey in Lincolnshire as part of Operation Bolero, the build-up of an American strategic air force in Britain.

With the 1st Fighter Group, Ilfrey carried out fighter escort missions over France before moving to the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations to support the Allied invasion in North Africa as part of Operation Torch in November 1942. Ilfrey became an ace in the Mediterranean, shooting down five enemy aircraft and evading internment in Portugal.

In 1943 he was sent back to the US to train fighter pilots, but soon returned to the UK in March 1944 as a commander of the 79th Fighter Squadron at Kings Cliffe in Northamptonshire. Flying with the 20th Fighter Group, Ilfrey claimed two more enemy aircraft until, on 12 June 1944, he was shot down in France behind enemy lines.

Disguised as a deaf and mute French farmer Ilfrey once again evaded capture, hiding in hedgerows and cycling 150 miles to Allied lines in Normandy with the assistance of French civilians. Ilfrey returned to combat duty and during his two tours he completed an impressive 142 missions.

Overall Ilfrey spent a total of 548 combat hours in the air and shot down eight enemy fighters, all in P-38s.

Connections

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Units served with

Aircraft

Lieutenant Jack Ilfrey (right) of the 1st Fighter Group, 15th Air Force with his P-38 Lightning (serial number 41-7587). Handwritten caption on reverse: 'P38F-1-LO 41-7587, Pilot 1/Lt Jack Ilfrey far right 94th "Hat in the Ring" 7th Sq, 1st Ftr Gp. Early Decemeber 1942- Yonks Les Bains, Algeria, No Africa. Crew Chief Roy Silvers 2nd from right.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Texas Terror-left boom/Mad Dash-right boom
  • Unit: 1st Fighter Group 94th Fighter Squadron
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".
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Happy Jack's Go Buggy
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th 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"
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Happy Jack's Go Buggy
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

31 July 1920

Other

1st shared Aerial Victory

29 November 1942 1/2 Me110

Other

1st & 2nd Full Aerial Victories

2 December 1942 2 x Me109

Other

3rd & 4th Aerial Victories

26 December 1942 2 x Fw190

Other

5th Aerial Victory

3 March 1943 1 x Me109 Achieved Ace Status

Other

6th & 7th full Aerial Victories

24 May 1944 2 x Me109

Other

Shot Down/Evaded

13 July 1944 Shot down while strafing a train. He successfully evaded and was back in England in 4 days.

Born

Based

With 1st Fighter Group

Based

With 1st Fighter Group. 72 missions & 208 combat hours flying with the 1st FG

Based

As commander of 79th Fighter Squadron

Other

End of 2nd tour

Stopped combat flying after December 1944. 70 missions and 320 combat hours with the 20th FG

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a separator to aid readability.

Date
Contributorfugari
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JCook Photo Collection & Archives

Date
Contributorfugari
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JCook Photo Collection & Archives

Date
Contributorfugari
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JCook Photo Collection & Archives

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Contributor466thHistorian
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Letters and information sent to Chris Brassfield from Jack Ilfrey - 6 July 1996 & 26 November 1997

Date
Contributorjrugman
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Page 87, The Mighty Eighth in Color, Roger Freeman.

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ContributorEmily
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Associated Group and Places from biography

Date
ContributorEmily
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Sources

Jack M Ilfrey: Gallery (8 items)