Several photographs submitted by Dwight Cumming, the nephew of Capt. Herbert Cumming, the first combat casualty of the 20th Fighter Group. Unfortunately none of these have any information attached to them and we'd appreciate it if the men pictured here could be identified.

These photos were taken while the Group were still in the United States, in the summer of 1943, probably at March Field or Ontario, California though there's a chance that a few were taken at Luke Field, Arizona during his flight training.

Any clues? Feel free to mail me at:sydedwards@gmail.com

The man on the left has been tentatively identified as R. C. Franklin, who was an instructor at Luke Field. He later joined the 79th Fighter Squadron as their C.O. So could this photo have been taken at Luke Field?

Photos from the period when the 20th were at Ontario, California in the summer of 1943 show numerous different P-38s adorned with numbers 30-38 on their noses, could this have been taken there?

The nameplate on the desk reads Paul A. Lobingier, Major. Note the map of California on the backwall of the room. Lobingier was promoted to Major in June, 1943 so this photo has to have been taken between then and August, when the 20th. deployed for the UK. The man in the background has been tentatively identified as Arnold Chestnut

Studying hard. Note aircraft ID posters on the wall and another aerial map of California. We'd love to know who these men are. The man in the foreground has been tentatively identified as Jess O. Yaryan (see picture below.)

Decked out in class A's and posing with the latest in American aircraft, anyone have a clue who these two men might be?

This appears to be the man on the left in picture 7. Taken at Ontario, California?

Taken at Ontario, California?

Cumming appears third from left, any clues to the identities of the remaining four men?

This appears to be the same man show at right in picture 7.

Possibly Donald H. McAuley, 55th Fighter Squadron, a great photograph none-the-less

Identified as Donald H. McAuley, he and Cumming were good friends and he wrote to Cumming's mother after her son disappeared on November 7th, 1943.

Possibly Cumming, any ideas what kind of aircraft he is flying?

Also identified as Donald H. McAuley, who had been an instructor at Luke Field and was finally released for combat duty. He would later command the 55th Fighter Squadron until he was killed in action on April 23, 1944.