Info on 55FS & 53FS
 

Seeking specific info on the following USAAF units - 55FS & 63FS

I am requesting info on personnel & aircraft losses for both units during their stay at RAF Wittering, UK before they re-joined the rest of their respective groups at nearby RAF KingsCliffe,

The 55FS were stationed at RAF Wittering between 20 Aug 43 & Apr 44 (exact dates NK) operating P-38
The 63FS were stationed at RAF Wittering between Jan - Apr 43 (exact dates NK) operating P-47

I am actually seeking all personnel (& acft) losses including;
combat/non combat/industrial accidents/auto accidents & deaths through natural causes for all ranks of these two units as part of research into a bigger project

Thanks in advance for any assistance given

Kind Regards

Tony H

Re: Info on 55FS & 53FS
 

Hello Tony H,

Have you looked in on these web pages ?


http://forum.armyairforces.com/

and

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/

and

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/

Alex

Re: Info on 55FS & 53FS
 

Hello Tony H,
I found one of my old lists, so here is what I had. Cannot say from where they took off from though.

20th FG, 55th FS for 1943 (UK).
11-12-43 - 42-67052 - 2Lt.Rowley, A.N. - RTD.
28-12-43 1st Mission - 36 a/c.
30-12-43 - 42-67498 - 1Lt.Hethrington, T.F. - RTD.
31-12-43 - 42-67489 - 2Lt.Crago, J.W. - KNO.
1-1-44 to 30-4-44
5-1-44 - 42-67198- 2Lt. French,R.H. - pow.
5-1-44 - 42-67194 - 2Lt.Altman, A.T. - Kia.
24-1-44 - 42-67661 - 2Lt. Frazier, J.R. - Kia.
10-2-44 - 42-67855 - 2Lt. Frey, R.D. - pow.
10-2-44 - 42-67887 - 2Lt. Lundin, J.W. - Kia.
10-2-44 - 42-67729 - 2Lt. Taylor, J.
24-2-44 - 42-67878 - 2Lt. Quiring. - Kia.
24-2-44 - 42-67860 - 2Lt. Geiger, E. - pow.
3-3-44 - 42-67705 - 2Lt. Goble, D.D. - Kia.
4-3-44 - 42-67864 - 1Lt. Scott, J.C. - Kia.
4-3-44 - 42-68097 - 2Lt. Pfeiffer, E.G. pow.
4-3-44 - 42-67923 - 1Lt. Bisher, H.E. - Evd.
16-3-44 - 42-67907 - 2Lt. Matyasz, R. - Kia.
16-3-44 - details unknown (?) - RTD.
18-3-44 - 42-67907 returned, no details (?) - RTD.
5-4-44 - 42-67753 - 2Lt. Yelton, J.J. - pow.
8-4-44 - 42-67719 - 2Lt. Singleton, A.D. - pow.
10-4-44 - 42-68077 - Maj. Willis, D.K. - EVD.
13-4-44 - no details (?)
18-4-44 - 42-68126 - 2Lt. Henslee, L.K. - Kia.
18-4-44 - no details (?)
18-4-44 - no details (?)
23-4-44 - 42-67885 - 1Lt. Ahern, R.W. - Kia.
23-4-44 - 42-67949 - Maj. McAuley, D.H. - Kia.
23-4-44 - no details (?)
1-5-44 - 42-67763 - 2Lt. Pearson jr, P.E. - Kia.
1-5-44 - 42-104314 - 2Lt. Shultz, W.G. -Kia.
8-5-44 - 42-67901 - 1Lt. Connor jr, J.J. - Kia.
25-5-44 - 42 - 104395 - 2Lt. Boele, P.A. - Kia.

56th FG, 63rd FS.
13-2-43 - 41-6257 - 2Lt. Ludwig, V.P.
8-4-43 - 4 a/c on op.
13-4-43 - Rodeo 202, 1st Mission 4 a/c and 8 a/c.
13-4-43 - Capt. Dyar, R.B.
25-4-43 - 41-6227 - 2Lt. Coenen, J.E.

All for now
Alex

Re: Info on 55FS & 53FS
 

Hi Alex

Many thanks for the info and the links which I have been using to follow up details. Can you confirm what the abbreviations KNO & RTD mean? My knowledge of US abbreviations is limited / non existent!

Also , due you have an "exact" date of departure of the 55FS from Wittering to Kings Cliffe? I have two reported dates, one "at the end of April" and the other "towards the end of May"

Thanks in advance for your co-operation

Kind Regards

Tony

Re: Info on 55FS & 53FS
 

Will this project be for Osprey?

Re: Info on 55FS & 53FS
 

Hi Stephen

No the project is for work and I have to confess that I have no idea who/what Osprey is . . .

Kind Regards

Tony

Re: Info on 55FS & 53FS
 

Hello Tony H,

KNO = Killed, None Operational.
could mean that he was in a ground accident, or as a result of bombing, or ferry flight etc etc.
RTD = Returned to Unit.

As for "exact" date of departure of the 55FS from Wittering to Kings Cliffe? I have put my references back on the shelf.
But from Wikipedia -
see here at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Kings_Cliffe.
The 55th FS was brought to Wittering as there was not room for it at Kings Cliffe initially.
Transfereing from Kings Cliffe to Horsham St. Faith on 6th April 1943.

And from Wikipedia 20th Fighter Group page -
HMS Queen Elizabeth dropped anchor on 25 August and the men of the 20th disembarked at the Firth of Clyde. From there they were transported to the docks at Greenock, Scotland, and then, by train, to their new home, RAF Kings Cliffe, England.
Fortune smiled on the 55th FS at this time. Due to space restrictions it had to be stationed at RAF Wittering, about five miles from the rest of the group. The facilities at there were much superior to those at King’s Cliffe. The 55th Squadron joined the rest of the group at King’s Cliffe in April 1944.

Alex
PS "Osprey" are publishers.

Re: Info on 55FS & 53FS
 

Hi,

i would add little more:

440304 P-38 72-67736 20 79 Lt. Albert Fogg slight injury crash-landed due to battle damage

440316 P-38 42-68019 MC- 20 79 Lt. Robert Wells bailed out severe injury Lost during air test

440318 P-38 42-67883 KI- 20 55 Lt. Alan Singleton Ditched - North Sea

3613 440408 P-38 42-67719 KI- 20 55 2/Lt.A.D.Singleton POW Zeist

440418 P-38 42-104312 KI- 20 55 Lt. John F Dyer bailed out



regards

Re: Info on 55FS & 53FS
 

Re: Info on 55FS & 53FS
 

Hello GMichalski,
I already had Singleton 55 FS 18/3/44 in my list above,but thanks for the MACR number.
Thanks for the additional downing for him which I omitted.
Also for adding the Dyer 55 FS for the 18/4/44 that I did not have in my above list.
As Peter has pointed out the other two are not 55th FS.
Thanks for the input though.
Alex

Re: Info on 55FS & 53FS
 

Thanks to all who have posted info so far - it is helping to build the picture - however when convenient, I would be grateful for any news on the exact date the 55FS returned to KingsCliffe as this affects the specific enquiry & project

Kind Regards

Tony

Re: Info on 55FS & 53FS
 

Hello Tony H

Following details is from "Losses of the US 8th & 9th Air Forces" Vol 1.
page 539
20FG - P-38 - Kings Cliff, Northants - From 26th August 43 - in situ.
- Wittering, Northants - August 43 - in situ (55th FS).
page 540
56FG - P-47 - Kings Cliff, Northhamptonshire - From 13th January 43 To 5th April 43.
- Wittering, Northamptonshire - From January 43 to March 43 ( 63rd FS only).
- Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk - From 5th April 43 To 8th July 43.
- Halesworth, Suffolk - From 8th July 43 - in situ.

Vol 2
pages 475 & 476
as vol 1.

Vol 3
pages 678 & 679
20 FG as vols 1 & 2
56 FG as vol 1 & 2 with addition of: - Boxted, Essex From 18th April 44 - in situ.
Vol 4
pages 709 & 710.
20 FG as earlier vols.
56 FG as vol 3.

"The Mighty Eighth"
On page 239 just has 20th FG - Kings Cliffe - 26 Aug 43 - 11 Oct 45.
and
On page 242 just has 56 FG - as above with the addition -Boxted 18 Apl 44 - 9 Sept 45 and Little Walden 9 Sept 45 - 10 Oct 45.

All for now
Alex