351st Bomb Group

Group
The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group. media-395060.jpg FRE 5117 The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 5117 - The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.

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.

Connections

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

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Polebrook 15 April 1943 - 23 June 1945

Encompassing

People

Albert Anger

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

Adolph F Bulski

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Corporal

A R Caster

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

Arturo C Chacon

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18056373
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Tranist Belle Crew and Nose Art. Albert Colky top row far right

Albert Colky

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radar Navigator Transit Belle B17

Aircraft

42-102455

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lucky Lady : Screaming Eagle
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron

42-102470

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron

42-102478

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
A battle damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (TU-C, serial number 42-102576) of the 510th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group, 27 May 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Photo date 27/5/44. 447th Sub Depot.'

42-102576

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Easter Bunny
  • Unit: 510th Bomb Squadron 351st Bomb Group

42-102613

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron

Mission

669

  • Date: 7 October 1944

578

  • Date: 26 August 1944

572

  • Date: 25 August 1944

Related videos and documents

UPL 34431

  • Media Type: Video
  • Collection Name: Rob Edwards collection
  • Object Number: UPL 34431
  • Description: Video and photographs of the memorial to the service of the men of the 351st BG(H) who served at Polebrook, station 110.
Download File

Document 30687

  • Media Type: Document
  • Collection Name: Air Force Historical Research Agency
  • Object Number: Document 30687
  • Description: General Orders #66, 1st Air Division, 3 May 1944
Download File

Document 30688

  • Media Type: Document
  • Collection Name: Air Force Historical Research Agency
  • Object Number: Document 30688
  • Description: General Orders #42, 1st Air Division, 4 February 1944 (Partial)
Download File

Document 30697

  • Media Type: Document
  • Collection Name: Air Force Historical Research Agency
  • Object Number: Document 30697
  • Description: General Orders #41, 1st Air Division, 3 February 1944

Revisions

Date
ContributorEMBLEMHUNTER
Changes
Sources

my photo
351st Bombardment Group (center)
others not related to unit

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Type added

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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)

351st Bomb Group: Gallery (252 items)

Object number: UPL 34431 - Video and photographs of the memorial to the...

Captain Smith, Edgar Cooper, a farmer, and Nelson Matthews of the 351st Bomb Group at Little Bromley, 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Capt Smith, Edgar Cooper, Nelson Matthews, Little Bromley, 1944, 8AF.'

Object number: FRE 10022 - Captain Smith, Edgar Cooper, a farmer, and Nelson...

A church near Polebrook, home of the 351st Bomb Group. Image via Thomas L Cooper, 351st Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Unknown Church, Polebrook area.'

Object number: FRE 10653 - A church near Polebrook, home of the 351st Bomb...

Loch Lomond, photographed by an airman of the 351st Bomb Group. Image via Thomas L Cooper, 351st Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Lock Lomond.'

Object number: FRE 10723 - Loch Lomond, photographed by an airman of the...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (RQ-Q, serial number 42-30499) nicknamed "My Princess" of the 509th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group in flight. Handwritten on slide casing: 'RQ:Q, My Princess.'

Object number: FRE 10730 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (RQ-Q, serial number 42...

A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Linda Ball" of the 351st Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: '66591 USAF - Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Linda Ball" of the 351st Bomb Group, England. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

Object number: FRE 10917 - A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Linda Ball" of...

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.'

Object number: FRE 1213 - B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 351st Bomb Group...

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.'

Object number: FRE 1214 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (DS-M, serial number 44...

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.'

Object number: FRE 1215 - B-17 Flying Fortresses (YB-J, serial number 43...

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

Object number: FRE 1216 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-107124)...

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...

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".'

Object number: FRE 1220 - Personnel of the 351st Bomb Group enjoy coffee and...