351st Bombardment Group

Early History:
Activated 1 October 1942 at Salt Lake City AB, Utah, the Group was established at Geiger Field in Washington in November of 1942 and assembled for initial training. The Second phase of training was conducted at Biggs Field, Texas, between December of 1942 and March of 1943. The unit then moved to Pueblo AAB, Colorado for preparation for overseas movement. The ground unit left Pueblo for New York on the 12th of April 1943. The aircraft began movement on the 1st of April 1943. My grandfather did not train with the 351st, since he was originally assigned to the 401st Bombardment Group (see the flight school page). Therefore, he did not join the 351st until late October of 1943, after they had already begun flying missions.

Subsequent History:
The 351st was redeployed to the US in May and June 1945. The first aircraft left on the 21st May 1945. The ground unit sailed for the US on the 25th June 1945 aboard the Queen Elizabeth. Docked the US in July 1945, but the group inactivated on the 28th August 1945. It was then reactivated as a Minuteman missile wing in 1963 and established at Whiteman AFB, Mo.

Distinguished Unit Citations:
11 Jan 1944 (All 1 BD groups)
9 Oct 1943 Anklam

Claims to Fame:
The 509th Bombardment Squadron made 54 consecutive missions on June 1943 to January 1944 without losses. Clark Gable also flew missions with the 511th "Ball Boys" squadron. He also shot several propoganda movie clips while flying with the squadron.

This above information was obtained from The U.S. Army Air Force Web Site



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