20th Fighter Group

Group
Official emblem of the  20th Fighter Group, approved 26 November 1942 media-395174.jpg FRE 5231 Official emblem of the 20th Fighter Group, approved 26 November 1942 Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 5231 - Official emblem of the 20th Fighter Group, approved 26 November 1942

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. The pilots escorted bombers and strafed ground targets as well as engaging enemy aircraft. The success with which the Group hit locomotive targets earned them the nickname of the "Loco Busters".

Commanding Officers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (20th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-357600
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot 1056 multi-engine. Group Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Squadron 77th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-21538
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot Squadron/Group Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 65th Fighter Wing 4th Fighter Group Headquarters (4th Fighter Group) Headquarters (65th Fighter Wing)
  • Service Numbers: O-17932
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Commanding General
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 65th Fighter Wing 20th Fighter Group 356th Fighter Group Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (20th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-22623
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot 1056 multi-engine/Group Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-421109
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot 1056 twin engine deputy group commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Squadron 84th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-429947
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 65th Fighter Wing Headquarters (65th Fighter Wing)
  • Service Numbers: O-17938
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Commanding General
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group Headquarters (20th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-393137
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot 1056 twin engine group commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (20th Fighter Group) Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (VIII Fighter Command)
  • Service Numbers: O-396297
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/Group Commander

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Kings Cliffe 26 August 1943 - 11 October 1945

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 18th Weather Squadron
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Supply
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Communications
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ground Crew
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Ground Crew

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Little Bug
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Strictly Stella's Baby Lucky Lady
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 370th Fighter Group 402nd Fighter Squadron 79th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Bob Cat III
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Squadron

Mission

Revisions

Date
ContributorSOLIDKREATE
Changes
Sources

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/unit/229 - Corrected to emblem text

Date
ContributorNomad20th
Changes
Sources

Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Changed Key Image

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Nicknames and aircraft type added. Nickname amended in description. Citations moved to citation section.
Sources:
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/20thfg.php

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Type added.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / The Mighty Eighth. A History of the Units, Men and Machines of the US 8th Air Force.' by Roger A. Freeman (1989). 'Air Force Combat Units of World War II' compiled by the Department of the US Air Force, edited by Maurice Maurer (1983). / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)

20th Fighter Group: Gallery (255 items)