KRATZMC

I guess its best to talk about what you know best, so I focused on the 351st Bomb Group and WW2. Since my dad, MSgt. Wendell Kratz was an aerial gunner with the 510th squadron, I thought that made me best qualified.

I want to keep the memory of the 351st BG alive, to memorialize their role in a tumultuous time. Everyone alive today lives in a world shaped by their generation and we should not forget that. Fortunately with the World Wide Web, a plain everyday Joe like me has the means to share and educate others.

My dad told me some stories as I was growing up but I when you’re young, you don’t appreciate the scope of what was really going on at that time. As I grew older, my fondness for reading turned into an interest in Military History and Aviation. It was then I learned how important the WW2 and that many good things arose from those ashes. Since my dad made the Air Force a career, I became a by product of that time which created for me, a more personal link and interest.

TV series 12 O’clock High. Based on the Movie with Gregory Peck and the 100th Bomb Group.

I recalled sitting home and watching the television series “12 O’clock High” with my dad not realizing what real heroes he and his fellow Airmen were. Now I think back and wonder what was going through his mind as he watched the television version of his own experience, portrayed as best as TV can.

It wasn’t until Christmas following his passing in 1998, I began to learn more as I received Christmas cards from his comrades. I had to inform them of my fathers death and I received letters from them, containing their recollections of my dad and the heroic things my dad had done. I was unaware of these deeds, as he never really explained how he earned several DFC’s (Distinguished Flying Cross) and other decorations. I will have more on my dad’s own experience in later posts as I continue to do research.

I have parenthesized some text, as the Military has a thing for acronyms and it is my little way of educating you. So without further ado, let me give you a Introduction to the 351st Bombardment Group Heavy.

The 351st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was a B-17 unit assigned to the 8th U.S. Army Air Forces (U.S.A.A.F.), in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), during WW2. The 351st flew their missions into the skies over Europe from Polebrook Army Air Field in Norhthamptonshire, near the village of Oundle, England. This is about 70 miles NNE of London.

Nearest transportation hub to Polebrook is the village of Oundle

The 351st as with other Bomb Groups, participated in the daylight strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Prior to U.S. entry into the war, daylight bombing had been abandoned by the British due to heavy losses from fighters and flak (Anti-aircraft artillery) and only bombed at night. As the Americans arrived, they soon learned the same harsh lesson and their heavy losses required a rethink in strategy.

Hundreds of B-17s stream into Germany 1945

It wasn’t until 1944 that a suitable escort fighter was found that had the range to follow the heavy bombers (B-17 and B-24’s) to their targets cutting their losses to acceptable levels. Until that time, a crew member got to go home if they survived 25 missions but that was a goal which seemed unattainable. Ground crews and other military personnel, had to ride out the entire war. But with the arrival of the new fighters daylight bombing became more realistic and the mission quota for crewmen was upped to 35.

Formations consisting of 1000 bombers with an equal number of fighters battling in the air at one time, must have been a spectacle unrivaled. A thousand plane formation, could take 30 minutes to pass over a fixed point on the ground. Needless to say, airmen used the term “Fur Ball” to described an intense aerial battle.

All bombers had markings, in particular the tail markings. This readily identified the planes to their units, along with markings along the fuselage. The tail also contained the aircraft number, identifying it individually. Early paint schemes were subdued or olive green but this was abandoned, as with vapor contrails and thousand bomber formations, camouflage seemed fruitless. It was also more economic to leave the aircraft its natural aluminum color, as it sped up production, reduced drag and weight.

351st Tail marking Triangle “J” and the Group Patch

The 351st comprised of four squadrons, the 508th, the 509th, 510th and the 511th.

Squadron patches; 508th…………….509th…………….510th…………….511th

The 351st Bomb Group had in its ranks the highest decorated bomber crew in WW2, the crew of the B-17 “Ten Horsepower”. Two Medals of Honor were awarded during their historic mission, culminating in a crash at Polebrook Air Field. The most notable member of the 351st was Actor Clark Gable but more about him and “Ten Horsepower” later on.

I will cover the B-17, its role and the role of the 8th Air Force in the U.S. daylight bombing campaign from 1943 thru 1945. But the meat and taters will be about the 351st Bomb Group.

Hopefully I’ve peaked your interest, so check out the other posts and pages for more.

For the 351st History page, click the patch: