42-3136 No Ball at All

A damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (42-3136) nicknamed "No Balls At All" of the 351st Bomb Group gets a new nose section from another damaged Fortress. Official caption printed on image: '(GE-16-1-351)(14-6-43)(A/C 23136)(Nose Section Replaced).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '21/5/'43.' media-380017.jpg FRE 1222 A damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (42-3136) nicknamed "No Balls At All" of the 351st Bomb Group gets a new nose section from another damaged Fortress. Official caption printed on image: '(GE-16-1-351)(14-6-43)(A/C 23136)(Nose Section Replaced).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '21/5/'43.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1222 - A damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (42-3136) nicknamed "No Balls At All" of the 351st Bomb Group gets a new nose section from another damaged Fortress....

Delivered Cheyenne 26/2/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Assigned 511BS/351BG [DS-P] Polebrook 5/6/43 EIGHT BALL; Missing in Action Amsterdam (22m) 22/2/44 with Walt Leclerc, Co-pilot: Jim Ellis, Navigator: George Kiduff, Bombardier: Art Starratt, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ralph Grooms, Radio Operator: Bruce Stone, Ball turret gunner: Howard Kramer, Waist gunner: Archie Stinebaugh, Waist gunner: John Taylor,Tail gunner: Harry Hay (10 Prisoner of War); flak, crash landed Vijfhuizen, S of Amsterdam, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 2772. NO BALLS AT ALL.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.

351st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Edmond John Blais

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32478396
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

James W Ellis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Robert L Gelsleichter

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13025869
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Ralph A Grooms

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Harold H Hay

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Belgium 24 February 1944

Revisions

Date
ContributorWebmasterCrash4045
Changes
Sources

Our Museum www.crash40-45.nl/en has pictures of the actual aircraft in its belly landed position with German soldires posing in front. We also have been in touch with one of the crewmwmbers in 1989

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 2772 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-3136: Gallery (3 items)

Ground personnel of the 351st Bomb Group stand beneath the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3136) nicknamed "No Balls At All". Handwritten caption on reverse: '21/5/43. Home Mears, Willard Tease, George Biegner.'

Object number: FRE 1219 - Ground personnel of the 351st Bomb Group stand...

A damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (42-3136) nicknamed "No Balls At All" of the 351st Bomb Group gets a new nose section from another damaged Fortress. Official caption printed on image: '(GE-16-1-351)(14-6-43)(A/C 23136)(Nose Section Replaced).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '21/5/'43.'

Object number: FRE 1222 - A damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (42-3136) nicknamed...

A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Officers of the 351st Bomb Group. A bomber crew with a B-17 nicknamed "Eight Ball (No Balls at All)". The wreck of a B-17 nicknamed "Eight Ball (No Balls at All)". Composite image. Handwritten caption on image "Winchester; Larson; Dean; Kelly; Terliz; Sadorick." Printed caption on imahe: "'No Balls At All' makes her final journey - on a German salvage wagon to the smelting works. This 351st BG B-17F was orignially named 'Eight Ball' un

Object number: FRE 4739 - A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group with their B...