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

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Polebrook 15 April 1943 - 23 June 1945

Encompassing

People

A E Holland

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 1061st Military Police Company
  • Highest Rank: Private First Class

Adrian M Hurst

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 854th Chemical Company

Alba A Hutchings

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant

A K Iso

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Private

Aaron E Johnson

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

Aircraft

42-29726

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Dallas Rebel Poisonality
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron 509th Bomb Squadron
42-29812

42-29812

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lucifer Jr
  • Unit: 509th Bomb Squadron 351st Bomb Group

42-29817

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

42-29821

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Argonaut : Vox Pop II
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron

42-29825

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Meat ball / major ball
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron

Mission

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 (251 items)

Personnel of the 351st Bomb Group enjoy coffee and doughnuts. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 1 Jan 1944.'[stamp], '298327.' [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". WOR 263576-7. 1-1-44-Y.'

Object number: FRE 4715 - Personnel of the 351st Bomb Group enjoy coffee and...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (DS-U, serial number 42-97381) of the 511th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group with a B-26 Marauder. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'From Robert C. Allen (387th BG (M)) via Peter Crouchman.'

Object number: FRE 4716 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (DS-U, serial number 42...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (YB-G, serial number 42-29858) of the 508th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group taxying at Polebrook. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Pre-Aug '44. Visiting B-17 waits to t/o. 508BS, YB-G, 351st BG. Polebrook. Source - Ed Hedrick (195A).'

Object number: FRE 4717 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (YB-G, serial number 42...

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.'

Object number: FRE 4718 - A battle damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (TU-C...

J.H. Burton and airman of the 351st Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Queen of the Ball" at the 447th Sub Depot. Handwritten on front of print: "... in 447th Sub Depot. J.H. Burton."

Object number: FRE 4719 - J.H. Burton and airman of the 351st Bomb Group...

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 351st Bomb Group in flight during a raid over Kassel, 2 October 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '351. 2/10/44 Kassel'

Object number: FRE 4721 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 351st Bomb Group in...

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (RQ-B, serial number 42-97701) of the 509th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group in flight during a mission over Weimar, 24 August 1944. Handwritten caption on image: "24.8.44. Weimar. 26,000 ft." Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Vic Maslen. Nadine L. 24-8-44, 279.'

Object number: FRE 4722 - A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (RQ-B, serial...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (RQ-F, serial number 44-6566) of the 509th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group in flight, 1945. Handwritten on reverse around stamp: 'Photo By John E. Greenwood / Carl Zeiss, 1945, 351st BG.'

Object number: FRE 4723 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (RQ-F, serial number 44...

A B-17G Flying Fortress nicknamed "Ten Horsepower" (TU-A, serial number 42-21763) of the 351st Bomb Group, piloted by Second Lieutentant Walter E Treumper and Sergeant Archibald Mathies, is guided by a fellow aircraft after the pilot was severley injured. Truemper and Mathies unsucessfully attempted to land the aircraft at Polebrook and were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honour for their bravery, 20 February 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Polebrook, B-17G, TU-A. 20/2/44, 351BG. MOH AC down.' S

Object number: FRE 4724 - A B-17G Flying Fortress nicknamed "Ten Horsepower"...

A B-17G Flying Fortress nicknamed "Ten Horsepower" (TU-A, serial number 42-21763) of the 351st Bomb Group, piloted by Second Lieutentant Walter E Treumper and Sergeant Archibald Mathies, after the pilot was severley injured. Truemper and Mathies unsucessfully attempted to land the aircraft at Polebrook and were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honour for their bravery, 20 Feb 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Enlargement TU-A. TCU Holsford, MOH acraft.'

Object number: FRE 4725 - A B-17G Flying Fortress nicknamed "Ten Horsepower"...

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 351st Bomb Group returns to Polebrook after a mission 20 December 1943. Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '351.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Fortress Returns Home From "Biggest Ever" Day Raid On Germany On Three Engines. Associated Press Photo Shows:- One of the Flying Fortresses which took part in the "biggest ever" daylight raid on Germany on December 30, returns to its home base on three engines. Note the stopped propeller (extreme right).

Object number: FRE 4726 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 351st Bomb Group...

A B-17G Flying Fortress nicknamed "Ten Horsepower" (TU-A, serial number 42-21763) of the 351st Bomb Group, piloted by Second Lieutentant Walter E Treumper and Sergeant Archibald Mathies, is guided by a fellow aircraft after the pilot was severley injured. Truemper and Mathies unsucessfully attempted to land the aircraft at Polebrook and were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honour for their bravery, 20 Feb 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Over Polebrook, MOH action. 2/44. Ten Horsepower.'

Object number: FRE 4727 - A B-17G Flying Fortress nicknamed "Ten Horsepower"...