Kings Cliffe
KING'S CLIFFE: Military aerodrome (Previously WANSFORD Landing Ground? Also known as PETERBOROUGH and sometimes spelt KINGSCLIFFE . USAAF Station 367 in WW2
Note: I am fairly certain I have never seen a WW2 airfield preserved in this way, with the runways being planted out. It certainly makes for a great graphic image when seen from the air.
Note: The first four pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©. The local area and area views are from my Google Earth © derived database.
Military users: WW1: RFC
Home Defence Night Landing Ground for 75 (HD) Sqdn (1916 to 1917)
Between the Wars:
1933: CFS [Central Fying School] (Avro 504s)
1935: 1 FTS [Flying Training School] (Avro 504s)
1936: 11 FTS (Hawker Audaxes)
WW2: Initially various RAF fighter units, satellite for RAF WITTERING. The RAF swopped places here with the USAAF with, at one time 91 and 349 Sqdns being based here (Vickers-Supermarine Spitfires)
8th USAAF 20th Fighter Wing 350th Fighter Group (Bell Aircobras)
56th Fighter Group
61 Sqdn (Republic P.47 Thunderbolts)
55, 77 & 79 Sqdns (North American P.51 Mustangs)
79 Sqdn (Originally equipped with Lockheed P.38 Lightnings)
Location: ENE of Kingscliffe village, 11nm W of Peterborough
Period of operation: WW1: 1916 to 1917. Then 1933 to 1959 according to one source?
Runways: WW2: 08/26 1554x46 hard 03/21 1212x46 hard
17/35 1006x46 hard
NOTES: Here again a note of caution must be made. Was the short-lived WW1 airfield on exactly the same site as the WW2 aerodrome?
'GABI' GABRESKI
A programme on Channel 5 in October 2012 described the career of ‘Gabi’ Gabreski the top USAAF ace in WW2 with 28 kills. Gabreski had asked for a transfer to the RAF when the USA entered the war and being a Polish speaker he was posted to 315 Squadron at NORTHOLT flying Mk.9 Spitfires. It was with 315 Sqdn that he had his first combat encounters. When the USAAF became stationed in the UK he was ordered to rejoin and was posted to KINGSCLIFFE flying the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. It was with this type that he scored all his victories with the USAAF during WW2.
Rather surprisingly Gabreski was, at first, far from being a natural pilot and very nearly failed to complete his basic training course. Having become the top USAAF ace he volunteered for one last mission on the last day before being posted back to the UK and was shot down whilst flying a second pass strafeing a Luftwaffe airfield near Koblenz. Interesting because the rule amongst USAAF fighter pilots was that you never made a second pass as it was far too risky!
He survived the crash landing and was taken prisoner.
However, the experience obviously did not deter him and he flew during the Korean war notching up eight more kills.
EARLIER HISTORY
The programme claimed that during the period prior to D-Day when the USAAF fighter pilots were tasked with clearing the skies, they shot down roughly 1500 Luftwaffe aircraft at a cost of just 28 USAAF fighters. We know that by this stage the Luftwaffe were sending up pilots with very little flying experience, as little as 20 hours total some claim, but even so it seems an improbable amount?
SOME STATISTICS
Quite understandably fighter bases needed fewer personnel to service their day to day needs and this base required 1418 personnel in late 1944. I have found a book published by the Southend Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society in January 1967 stating that the 20th Wing had been in existence for thirty six years. Seventeen of which had been in England, longer than any other American unit, ending their original stay here in October 1945. The account goes on to say they came back to England with F.84 Thunderstreaks in April 1952, and re-equipped with F.100 Super Sabres in 1957. The account doesn’t however say if they returned to stay at KING'S CLIFFE. Highly unlikely I suppose?
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for delving around in 2023 to see what else might be available to illustrate this listing.
The aerial photo is from the American Air Museum.
Photos One, Two and Three are from Warbirds of WW2 by Jeffrey L Ethell. It certainly amuses me to think of a Mustang being reserved as a runabout!
The RAF in WW2 by comparison would have had, to some extent, impressed light aircraft from the 1930s, or gash RAF light training/communication types. But, I have read accounts, (some autobiographical), of RAF pilots using their 'personal' front line aircraft for going on a 'jolly', mostly though when stationed inland or 'up north' for a rest from combat duties.
The Photo One, Two and Three items are from Wolfpack Warriors by Roger A Freeman.
NOTES: These pictures above serve to remind us of just how critical is was, for a successful outcome when the U.K. declared war on Nazi Germany in 1939, that we really did need the U.S.A. to come on side. At first of course the U.S.A. did see the 'Lend Lease' agreement as being, finally, a very good way of bankrupting the U.K. and putting paid to the Empire. A long held ambition of course ever since the Americans fought a war for independance from the British.
Churchill had crossed the Atlantic at least a couple of times to try and convince the Americans that; "Make no mistake about it, You are next". German U-boats were already inflicting considerable damage sinking merchantmen vessels along their eastern coast, let alone creating havoc on the Atlantic convoys.
The aerial photo is from The 20th Fighter Group Project.
A FEW MORE NOTES
I think a great deal of credit has to be awarded to the USAAF, after they arrived in England and being supplied with the very best airfield locations, that they did not rub our noses in it as conquering heroes coming in to save us. They went to great pains to welcome the both locals and the press. And, dished out luxury items to the local youngsters with 'candies' and peanut butter. Held dances and Xmas parties and it did those airmen no harm at all, with the young ladies, being able to dispense, albiet often in return for certain 'favours' no doubt, nylon stockings.
But, we need to remember, that they were mostly comprised, as were British forces, of very young men barely out of school.
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