Kingscliffe

[Ratch]

The village is Kings Cliffe, but the Air Ministry name is Kingscliffe. King’s Cliffe was a Class II airfield and had a FCW4514 tower (watch office 12096/41) for night-fighters.

Here I shall post some of the aircraft types that flew from this airfield.

In August 1943, the 20th Fighter Group arrived in Clyde, Scotland, before travelling to Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire, which was to be their base for the rest of the war. The Group flew 312 missions before their last mission on 25 April 1945. Captain James “Slick” Morris was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1920. He enlisted in the Air Corps in 1942 and flew 72 missions with the 20^th Fighter Group, 77^th Fighter Squadron. On 8 February 1944 he scored four victories in a single sortie; two Fw190s and two Bf109Gs. I have used Tally Ho! decals to represent P-38J-10 LO s/n 42-67717, E*LC “My Dad/Til We Meet Again” flown by Morris in March 1944. Although 42-67717 was adorned with his impressive tally, he only claimed one of his 7.33 victories in this aircraft; a Bf110 shot down over Schweinfurt on 24 February 1944. His final kill, in P-38J-15 43-28397 was an Me410 near Leipzig, Germany on 7 July 44 in P-38J s/n 43-28397, but he was badly shot up by the 410’s remote controlled waist guns and was forced to bale out. He was captured and spent the rest of the war a PoW.

[Ratch]

Kingscliffe had several of these revetments.

[Ratch]

20FG moved to England in Aug 1943 and became part of 8AF. James M. Morris of 55FS was flying Lockheed P-38H-5-LO Lightning 42-67034 on 15 November 1943 when it suffered damage when landing at Cheddington (Station 113). The aircraft was repaired. 20FG entered combat with P-38's late in Dec 1943 from King’s Cliffe and for several months was engaged primarily in escorting heavy and medium bombers to targets on the Continent. Frequently strafed targets of opportunity while on escort missions. 20FG retained escort duties as its primary function until the end of the war, but in Mar 1944 began to fly fighter-bomber missions, which became almost as frequent as escort operations. They strafed and dive-bombed airfields, trains, vehicles, barges, tugs, bridges, flak positions, gun emplacements, barracks, radio stations, and other targets in France, Belgium, and Germany.

20FG became known as the "Loco Group" because of its numerous and successful attacks on locomotives. It received a DUC for performance on 8 Apr 1944 when the group struck airfields in central Germany and then, after breaking up an attack by enemy interceptors, proceeded to hit railroad equipment, oil facilities, power plants, factories, and other targets. They flew patrols over the Channel during the invasion of Normandy in Jun 1944. Supported the invasion force later that month by escorting bombers that struck interdictory targets in France, Belgium, and Holland, and by attacking troops, transportation targets, and airfields. 42-67034 was transferred to 1FG and was lost in Italy. 20FG converted to P-51's in Jul 1944.

[SD45elect2000]

Thanks Ratch,

Very nice illustrated history.

Is it just me or are we having a P-38 themed party this month?

Randall

[paul71]

a nice interesting read ratch

[paul71]

are these ok for you ratch

kings cliffe may 1944

P38 parked up at kings cliffe may 1944

[Ratch]

Thanks Paul

[Ratch]

Is it just me or are we having a P-38 themed party this month?

Randall

 

 

It's an old build, Randall, but the other conversation reminded me I'd not posted that one.

[SD45elect2000]

Is it just me or are we having a P-38 themed party this month?

Randall

It's an old build, Randall, but the other conversation reminded me I'd not posted that one.

 

 

I'm glad you did, thank you .

 

 

Randall

[Ratch]

Miss Miami was assigned to Lieutenant Rep Jones of the 77^th Fighter Squadron, 20^th Fighter Group at Kingscliffe. It was named after his home town in Florida. He completed his combat tour in April 1945, claiming seven kills (ground and air). The aircraft was scrapped in September 1945.

[Ratch]

‘Mama’s Boy’ KI*O s/n 43-29301 Lt. Edwin E. Wasil 20th Fighter Group, 77th Fighter Squadron, King’s Cliffe, 26th August 1943 – October 1945

[Paulus66]

Very interesting Ratch.

It's somewhat a piece of personal history as kids we used too cycle up to this airfield and play around up there. We used to find all sorts of stuff up there. We found some 50.cal shells in an old hut that was hidden in a spinney. We all took two each unlinked the empty belt strap and reported the rest to the farmer.

One returning home, we in our youthful wisdom decided to fire off one of the shells. So with poor ear guards on and the rest fingers in their ears, the shell firm in a vice I struck the end with a spindle punch. We didn't expect what happened. Several walls, our new porcelain outside privy, two of our speedway bikes all died in an explosive manner. It was finally stopped by a very old English oak tree.

Thankfully no one was hurt by it, apart from us all taking damage to our hearing and the absolute trashing we had of all our fathers and some of the neighbours.

I have to add it is the only time I have ever heard my mam swear.

It never stopped us cycling to the many airfields and army dumps, bomb sites and downed aircraft sites that surrounded us.

But that's another story or several.

[Ratch]

Great anecdote, Paul.