An old Roman road forms the northern edge of the airfield.  On the south side of this road is this striking monument.

Two stone poles bearing a P-51 Mustang wing (on the left) and Spitfire wing (on the right) surmounted onto two square block plinths that is set on two-stepped base. The poles are joined together by a black stone plaque that is inscribed in English in gold lettering. The left wing is etched with the USAAF roundel and badges of the 97th Service Group; 55th, 77th and 79th Fighter Squadrons; and 20th Fighter Group on its pole. Then the right wing is etched with the RAF roundel and badges of the 266 (Rhodesian Air Force), 349 (Belgian Air Force), 485 (New Zealand Air Force and 616 (RAF) Squadrons on the pole. Two smaller plaques describe the dedication ceremony and creators of the memorials. The whole memorial is surrounded by paving stones and enclosed on three sides with a wooden fence. Two low walls form an entrance from the roadside lay-by.

King’s Cliffe became USAAF Station 367 with the arrival of the 20th FG in August 1943 and the Americans made it their own. Initial equipment was P-38H and ‘J Lightnings, with the unit converting to P-51C and ‘D Mustangs from July 1944. The USAAF had gone by October 1945 though, and the base was, for a time, a holding facility for prisoners of war before ending its military days as a munitions store in 1959. Much of the airfield has reverted to agriculture, with haulage and light industry using some segments.

Source of information: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, www.key.aero

Source of images: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, www.waymarking.com

KINGS CLIFFE AIRFIELD

STATION 367

TO COMMEMORATE THE

ETERNAL MEMORY OF THOSE

AMERICAN, BRITISH, BELGIAN

AND COMMONWEALTH AIRMEN

WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN

THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM

1939 - 1945

LEST WE FORGET