The French flying B-17.G
The 351st Bombardment Group
The 351st Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth United States Army Air Force, was based at Polebrook, Northamptonshire, England, during World War II between Apr. 15, 1943 and Jun. 10, 1945. During the three years at Polebrook, the 351st B.G. had a total of 279 B17 Flying Fortresses on charge. These flew 9,075 sorties with 7,945 of them dropping 20,778 tons of bombs. The gunners in the Group fired off 2,776,028 rounds of ammunition and were credited with destroying 303 enemy aircraft. The Group flew 311 credited missions and lost 124 B 17's in combat. The 351st BG(H) was formed on Nov. 24, 1942 at Spokane, Washington. It was inactivated on Aug. 28, 1945 at Sioux Falls Army Air Field.
Group Commanders:
Col. William A. Hatcher Jnr. Nov. 24, 1942 - Dec. 31, 1943
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
The Group had four Bombardment Squadrons 508th, 509th, 510th and 511th.
508th (YB- ) Commanders:
Maj. Kieth G. Birlem Nov. 24, 1942 - May 7, 1943
Lt. Col. James T. Stewart May 14, 1943 - Aug. 28, 1945
509th (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
510th (TU- ) Commanders:
Cap. William R. Forsythe Nov. 24, 1942 - May 14, 1943
Maj. John R. Blaylock May 17, 1943 - Dec. 31, 1943
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
511th (DS- ) Commanders:
Lt. Col. Clinton F. Ball Nov. 24, 1942 - Sep. 23, 1943
Cap. Harry B. Morse Sep. 27, 1943 - Oct. 1, 1943
Lt. Col. John B. Carraway Oct. 1, 1943 - Aug. 28, 1945
Supporting Units at Polebrook:
11th Station Complement
201st Finance Section
252nd Medical Dispensary
304th Service Group
320th Service Squadron
447th Sub-Depot
854th Chemical Company
1052nd Ordnance Squadron
1061st MP Company
1629th Ordnance Supply and Maintenance Co.
2098th Aviation Fire Fighting Platoon
