The 20th Fighter Group of the 8th AAF, known popularly as the "Loco Busters", is now up and forming for the Bishops in the MA. Most well known for their yellow-nosed P-38Js ("California Cutie" and "Happy Jacks Go Buggy" were 20th birds) and black and white nosed Ponys, the 20th was also home to the top 2 P-38 aces of the 8th and were among the top of the 8thAAF FGs in ground attacking and strafing missions.
A few bullet points on the 20th-
- Stationed: King's Cliffe, UK (AAF Station F-367-England) 26 August, 1943 to 11 October, 1945
- Assigned To The 8th. Air Force: 25 August, 1943
- First Mission: 28 December, 1943 Final Mission: 25 April, 1945
- Wing/Command Assignments: VIII FC 25 August, 1943; VIII FC, 67 FW 6 October, 1943;
1 BD, 67 FW 15 September, 1944; 1 AD, 67 FW 1 Jan 1945.
- Distinguished Unit Citation: 8 April, 1944 for sweep over Germany.
- Oldest USAAF group to be assigned to the 8th AF for extended period of time.
- Best P-51 maintenance record of any 8th AF group for final months of the war.
- Two highest scoring P-38 aces of the 8th.AF (James Morris and Lindol Graham)
For more info and images, look
here .
If you are interested, see myself (White13) or Platan0 for info.
See you in the skies!