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351st Bomb Group

Group

  • A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-107124) of the 351st Bomb Group flies over Polebrook.

    A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-107124) of the 351st Bomb Group flies over Polebrook.

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  • B-17 Flying Fortresses (YB-J, serial number 43-37076), (TU-R, serial number 44-6610) and (TU-M, serial number 43-39001) of the 351st Bomb Group release bombs over the target. Printed caption on reverse: '59333AC- Bombs from 8th AF Boeing B-17 Flying Forts fall toward Erfut, Germany on 9 February 1945. US Air Force Photo, 161st Photographic Squadron, Aerospace audio-visual service.'

    B-17 Flying Fortresses (YB-J, serial number 43-37076), (TU-R, serial number 44-6610) and (TU-M, serial number 43-39001) of the 351st Bomb Group release bombs over the target. Printed caption on reverse: '59333AC- Bombs from 8th AF Boeing B-17 Flying Forts fall toward Erfut, Germany on 9 February 1945. US Air Force Photo, 161st Photographic Squadron, Aerospace audio-visual service.'

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress (DS-M, serial number 44-8455) of the 351st Bomb Group. Official caption written beneath image: '(SAO.351/79.15)(9 Mar 45)(902-63/8-27300) Kassel.'

    A B-17 Flying Fortress (DS-M, serial number 44-8455) of the 351st Bomb Group. Official caption written beneath image: '(SAO.351/79.15)(9 Mar 45)(902-63/8-27300) Kassel.'

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97472) nicknamed

    A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97472) nicknamed "Slow Ball" of the 351st Bomb Group.

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  • Second Lieutenant Donald A. Gaylord, a pilot of the 351st Bomb Group with the damaged fueselage of his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3532) nicknamed

    Second Lieutenant Donald A. Gaylord, a pilot of the 351st Bomb Group with the damaged fueselage of his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3532) nicknamed "Lucille Ball". Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication'16 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '293129.' [Censor no.]. Printed caption on reverse: 'PILOT RISKS LIFE TO KEEP FLYING FORTRESS FROM CRASHING ON ENGLISH TOWN. It has just been disclosed that a 23-year-old American pilot 2nd Lt. Donald A Gaylord of Waterloo, IA, risked his life to keep his badly damaged Flying Fortress, "Lucille Ball" from crashing into the centre of Ipswich, England, as the bomber returned from an attack on Gelsenkirchen, on November 5. Crossing the coast of England the Fortress was flying on a single engine and at 3,000ft Gaylord ordered the crew to bail out. He then set the bomber on automatic pilot on a course which would take it out over the channel but the automatic pilot was unable to keep the ship in level flight and it started a dive for the centre of the city. Gaylord, however managed to pull the bomber out of its dive at 200ft and belly landed in a field on the outskirts of the city. Associated Press Photo Shows: 2nd Lt Donald A Gaylord, 23, of Waterloo, IA, who risked his life to prevent his badly-damaged Flying Fortress, "Lucille Ball", from crashing into the centre of Ipswich.' Handwritten on reverse: 'Photo posed some time after incident, other photo shows wood braces under a/c.'

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  • A damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (42-3136) nicknamed

    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.'

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  • Ground personnel of the 351st Bomb Group stand beneath the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3136) nicknamed

    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.'

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  • Personnel of the 351st Bomb Group enjoy coffee and doughnuts. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 1 January 1944, [stamp], '298326.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Doughnuts and coffee after

    Personnel of the 351st Bomb Group enjoy coffee and doughnuts. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 1 January 1944, [stamp], '298326.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Doughnuts and coffee after "Biggest Ever" day raid on Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows: Crew-members who took part in the "Biggest Ever" daylight raid on Germany on December 30 enjoy Doughnuts and coffee on their return at a US bomber station "somewhere in England".'

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  • B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 351st Bomb Group, including (RQ-P, serial number 42-97193) and (serial number 43-37920) fly through flak bursts during a mission. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Thoison '557' took pic 20/7/44. Star Duster DS-L MIA 6/8/44.'

    B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 351st Bomb Group, including (RQ-P, serial number 42-97193) and (serial number 43-37920) fly through flak bursts during a mission. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Thoison '557' took pic 20/7/44. Star Duster DS-L MIA 6/8/44.'

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  • John E Greenwood, a navigator of the 351st Bomb Group outside the officer's club at Polebrook. Printed caption on reverse: 'December 1944 Polebrook, England. 351st BG, 509th BSq. John E Greenwood, Navigator.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Officer's Club #2 (combat).'

    John E Greenwood, a navigator of the 351st Bomb Group outside the officer's club at Polebrook. Printed caption on reverse: 'December 1944 Polebrook, England. 351st BG, 509th BSq. John E Greenwood, Navigator.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Officer's Club #2 (combat).'

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The 351st Bomb Group flew strategic bombing missions from their base at Polebrook, Northamptonshire from April 1943 to June 1945. The Group's most famous member was Hollywood actor Clark Gable, who flew four/ five missions with them as an observer gunner for the making of recruitment film 'Combat America'. The Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations, the first for bombing an aircraft factory at Anklam, Germany under heavy fire, on 9 October 1943 and the second for a mission on 11 January 1944 bombing aircraft factories at Oschersleben, a DUC that was awarded to all 1st Bomb Division Groups.

Structure

Part of
Encompassing
Previously was
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Became
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Missions

  • VIII Bomber Command 55

    13 May 1943
    The large fighter sweeps of the last several weeks have not been successful in drawing any significant numbers of German fighters in opposition. So, if the German will not send his fighters up for a one-on-one confrontation with the American P-47s,...

  • VIII Bomber Command 56

    14 May 1943
    Today's operations will be the most extensive yet mounted by VIII Bomber Command. The operations call for a "maximum effort". Whereas in the past a single target or those close together have been chosen, today's effort is against widley separated...

  • VIII Bomber Command 57

    15 May 1943
    The missions of VIII Bomber Command are becoming more sophisticated. The primary stratgic target for today is the U-Boat pens, marshalling yards and Luftwaffe airfield at Emden, Germany. The resistance of Luftwaffe fighters is a primary concern for the...

  • VIII Bomber Command 60

    21 May 1943
    The German naval and port facilities at Wilhelmshaven and Emden, Germany are the two primary targets for this mission. Once again, there is a two-fold strategic objective: entice the Luftwaffe to commit its fighter forces; and further degrade the naval...

  • VIII Bomber Command 61

    29 May 1943
    Three primary targets are selected for this mission. The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are selected as the target for a force of 169 B-17s despatched from: 91BG (23); 92BG (22), 303BG (30); 305BG (25) 306BG (24); 351BG (21) and 379BG (24). This is...

  • VIII Bomber Command 62

    11 June 1943
    The harbour facilities, port areas and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven and Cuxhaven, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. This is the largest number of heavy bombers yet despatched on a single mission - 252. This is the first mission flown...

  • VIII Bomber Command 65

    22 June 1943
    The German rubber industry (Chemische Werke Hüls AG) at Marl (district Hüls-Nord), Germany, is the primary objective of this mission and is assigned to the Bomb Groups with the most expericence. Also the industrial area of Antwerp, Belgium is assigned...

  • VIII Bomber Command 66

    23 June 1943
    A combined force of 172 B-17s is despatched from 91BG (13); 92BG (14); 303BG (22); 305BG (21); 306BG (22); 351BG (20); 379BG (20); 381BG (22); and 384BG (18). Also 8 YB-40 gunships from 92BG are interspersed in the formation. The intention was for 140...

  • VIII Bomber Command 68

    26 June 1943
    The targets for today are all Luftwaffe installations: the Villacoublay air depot SW of Paris, France is the primary; the airfield at Poissy, France is attacked as the secondary because of cloud cover; the airfield at Tricqueville, France; and the...

  • VIII Bomber Command 69

    28 June 1943
    The primary specific target for this mission are the lock gates at St. Nazaire, France to be attacked by two separate formations and also another force is despatched to bomb the German airfield at Beaumon Le Roger, France. A formation of 120 B-17s of...

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Stations

Station Location Date
Based Polebrook 15 April 1943 – 23 June 1945

Connections

People

  • Billy Abbogast

    Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 351st Bomb Group
    Flew on 'Lucky Jewell'

  • Clayton Abel

    Military | Staff Sergeant | 351st Bomb Group

  • Hyman Aberman

    Military | Corporal | Finance Section | 351st Bomb Group

  • Charles Ablanalp

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 351st Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) in Switzerland in B-17 'Torchy Tess' 43-37854

  • Walter Abraham

    Military | Private First Class | 351st Bomb Group

  • Ted Abrams

    Military | Second Lieutenant | 351st Bomb Group

  • Edward Abromeit

    Military | Technical Sergeant | 351st Bomb Group

  • Lawrence Accordini

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Nose Gunner | 351st Bomb Group
    Flew in B-17 'Hot to Go. '

  • Walter Acheychek

    Military | Sergeant | 351st Bomb Group

  • James Achilles

    Military | Corporal | 351st Bomb Group

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Aircraft

  • 42-97325 Lucky Penny

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Available: 18 February 1944 - Boeing Aircraft Co, Seattle, Washington ...

  • 42-102455 'Lucky Lady' 'Screaming Eagle'

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 4/3/44; Gt Falls 6/3/44; Cheyenne 4/4/44; Hunter 18/4/44; Grenier 5/5/44; Assigned 335BS/95BG [OE-Z] Horham 8/5/44 LUCKY LADY; with H.E. Hansen force landed B-58 Melsbroek, Bel 6/2/45; with G.T. Purdy force landed A-96 Toul-Ochey,...

  • 42-102470

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 11/3/44; Gr Island 1/4/44; Grenier 6/4/44; Assigned 508BS/351BG [YB-J] Polebrook 29/4/44; Missing in Action {9m} Ludwigshafen 27/5/44 with Gosta Johnson, Co-pilot: Herb Neumann, Navigator: Bob Schmidt, Flight engineer/top turret...

  • 42-102478

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 7/3/44; Kearney 2/5/44; Grenier 14/5/44; Assigned 510BS/351BG [TU-O] Polebrook 16/5/44; Missing in Action {3m} French A/fds 14/6/44 with Gus Cesarini, Navigator: George Reineke (2KIA*); Co-pilot: Frank Ludwig, Flight engineer/top...

  • 42-102613

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 18/3/44; Kearney 3/4/44; Grenier 14/4/44; Assigned 508BS/351BG [YB-C] Polebrook 29/4/44; Missing in Action {10m} Ludwigshafen 27/5/44 with Howard Evans, Co-pilot: Jim Duffy, Bombardier: Roger Peterson (3 Prisoner of War); Navigator:...

  • 42-102949

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 21/4/44; Kearney 2/5/44; Grenier 15/5/44; Assigned 457BG Glatton 30/6/44; transferred 508BS/351BG [YB-G] Polebrook 1/7/44; Missing in Action 22m Augsburg 19/7/44 with Herb Konecheck, Co-pilot: Barrett Levinsky, Navigator: Joe...

  • 42-102952

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 22/4/44; Kearney 7/5/44; Grenier 24/5/44; Assigned 511BS/351BG [DS-H] Polebrook 31/5/44; Missing in Action 29m Merseburg 28/7/44 with Pilot Bill Long POW; Co-Pilot Ben Upshaw POW; Flight engineer/top turret gunner Jack Hurley POW;...

  • 42-102971

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 24/4/44; Hunter 4/5/44; Grenier 19/5/44; Assigned 508BS/351BG [YB-J] Polebrook 29/5/44; Missing in Action {26m} Brandenburg 6/8/44 with Paul Pattison, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Clyde Bullock, Radio Operator: Winfred Wiemer,...

  • 42-107046

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Tulsa 6/2/44; Grenier 27/2/44; Assigned 511BS/351BG [DS-Z] Polebrook 26/3/44; Missing in Action {21m} Brandenburg 6/8/44 with Bill Boyd, Co-pilot: Chester Snyder, Radio Operator: Max Thompson, Ball turret gunner: Malcolm Keanes (4 Killed in...

  • 42-107077 Shoo Shoo Baby

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Denver 14/2/44; Gr Island 3/3/44; Grenier 23/3/44; Assigned 510BS/351BG [TU-D] Polebrook 7/4/44; Missing in Action 32m Augsburg 19/7/44 with Richard Chapman, Navigator: Lewis Page, tog-Ken Graham, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Earl...

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Citations

None

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known
Aircraft used
  • B-17 Flying Fortress

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
10 April 2015 07:58:24 EMBLEMHUNTER Changes to mission associations and media associations
Sources

my photo
351st Bombardment Group (center)
others not related to unit
Date Contributor Update
27 February 2015 15:05:41 rossingtonj Changes to type and mission associations
Sources

Type added
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:45 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / The Mighty Eighth. A History of the Units, Men and Machines of the US 8th Air Force.' by Roger A. Freeman (1989). 'Air Force Combat Units of World War II' compiled by the Department of the US Air Force, edited by Maurice Maurer (1983). / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)

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