351st Bomb Group

The 351st Bombardment Group (Heavy), United States Army EighthAir Force, was based at RAF Polebrook, Northamptonshire, England during World War II.The 351st flew strategic bombing missions against Nazi Germany and Nazi-occupied France using the B-17 Flying Fortress.__TOC__

Formation

The 351st was officially formed on November 24, 1942 at Geiger Field near Spokane, Washington and was comprised of the 508th, 509th, 510th and 511th Bomb Squadrons. Weather conditions prompted a move to Biggs Field near El Paso, Texas where on January 2, 1942 the 351st began conducting combat flight training operations.

Combat Operations

The 351st arrived at Polebrook on April 15, 1943 and departed June 10, 1945. It flew 9,075 sorties, dropped 20,778 tons of bombs, fired 2,776,028 rounds of ammunition, and destroyed 303 enemy aircraft. A total of 311 missions were credited. Out of 279 B-17 Flying Fortresses, 124 were lost in combat.

Citations

The 351st received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for exceptional performance on October 9, 1943 when an aircraft factory in Anklam, Germany was accurately bombed despite extremely heavy flak and intense resistance from Luftwaffe fighters. The group received another DUC for participating in the successful attack of January 11, 1944 on aircraft factories in Oschersleben and Konigslutter in central Germany.

Tail Marking

The B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 351st displayed a Triangle J tail marking.

Notable Persons of the 351st

Clark Gable was stationed at Polebrook during 1943,and served with both the 303d Bombardment Group and 351st.

Unit Organization

Group Commanders:

*Col. William A. Hatcher, Jr. Nov. 24, 1942 - Dec. 31, 1943 (shot down and prisoner of war)
*Col. Eugene A. Romig Jan. 3, 1944 - Oct. 12, 1944
*Col. Robert W. Burns Oct. 12, 1944 - Mar. 30, 1945
*Col. Merlin I. Carter Mar. 31, 1945 - Aug. 28, 1945

508th Squadron (YB)

Commanders

*Maj. Kieth G. Birlem Nov. 24, 1942 - May 7, 1943
*Lt. Col. James T. Stewart May 14, 1943 - Aug. 28, 1945
*Cap. Robert S. Parnell Feb. 24, 1944 -

Personnel

List of personnel 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron

509th Squadron (RQ)

Commanders

*Lt. Col. Elzia Ledoux Nov. 24, 1942 - Jul. 1, 1944
*Maj. Paul L. Fishburne Jul. 1, 1944 - Sep. 25, 1944
*Maj. Franklin A. Richardson Sep. 25, 1944 - Mar. 25, 1945
*Maj. Mortimore L. Korges Mar. 25, 1945 - Aug. 28, 1945

Personnel

List of personnel 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron

510th Squadron (TU)

Commanders

*Cap. William R. Forsythe Nov. 24, 1942 - May 14, 1943
*Maj. John R. Blaylock May 17, 1943 - Dec. 31, 1943 (killed in action)
*Maj. Leonard B. Roper Jan. 4, 1944 - Jul. 21, 1944
*Lt. Col. Paul D. Wood Jul. 21, 1944 - Oct. 15, 1944
*Maj. Leonard B. Roper Oct. 15, 1944 - Jan. 17, 1945
*Maj. John D. Gorham Jnr. Jan. 17, 1945 - Aug. 28, 1945

Personnel

List of personnel 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron

511th Squadron (DS)

Commanders

*Lt. Col. Clinton F. Ball Nov. 24, 1942 - Sep. 23, 1943
*Cap. Harry B. Morse Sep. 27, 1943 - Oct. 1, 1943 (prisoner of war)
*Lt. Col. John B. Carraway Oct. 1, 1943 - Aug. 28, 1945
*Cap. Robert S. Parnell Feb. 24, 1945 -

Personnel

List of personnel 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron

Modern Day Lineage

*351st Missile Wing

External links

* [http://freespace.virgin.net/ken.harbour/index.htm 351 BG(H), US 8th Air Force, W.W.II]
* [http://members.tripod.com/~FutureAdvocate2/351st-BombGroup/351stBGmain.htm 351st Bombardment Group at Polebrook]
* [http://www.polebrook.com/history.htm History of the 351st]
* [http://www.8thafhs.org/bomber/351bg.htm Eighth Air Force Historical Society 351st Bombardment Group]