As a result, the squadron only began organizing in October 1942, after it had moved to Gowen Field, Idaho. Two days later, the squadron departed for Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington. There the first aircrew arrived on 1 December 1942 and it received its first operational aircraft and began training.[6]
The squadron established itself at its combat station, RAF Thorpe Abbotts, on 9 June 1943, flying its first combat mission on 25 June. Until the end of the war, the squadron was primarily employed in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Until January 1944, it concentrated its operations on airfields in France, and industrial targets and naval facilities in France and Germany. On 17 August 1943, it participated in an attack on a factory manufacturing Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters in Regensburg, Germany, which seriously disrupted production of that plane. Although the mission called for fighter escort, the fighter group assigned to protect the squadron's formation missed the rendezvous and the wing formation proceeded to the target unescorted. Enemy fighter opposition focused on the low "box", formed in part by the squadron. Ten of the 21 Flying Fortresses flown by the 100th Group were lost on this mission. Unknown to AAF intelligence at the time, the attack also destroyed almost all of the fuselage construction equipment for Germany's secret Me 262 jet fighter. Rather than returning to England, the unit turned south and recovered at bases in North Africa.[7] For this action, the squadron was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).[4]
From January to May 1944, the 351st attacked airfields, industrial targets, marshalling yards, and missile sites in Western Europe. During Big Week, it participated in the concentrated attack on the German aircraft industry. In March, it conducted a series of long range attacks against Berlin, for which it was awarded a second DUC.[4] The raid of 6 March was to be the costliest mission flown by Eighth Air Force during the war. German fighter controllers detected that the formation including the squadron was unprotected by fighter escorts and concentrated interceptor attacks on it. Twenty-three B-17s from the formation failed to return.[8][c] Two days later, German fighters shot down the leader of the 45th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the 100th Group took the lead in another attack on Berlin.[9] From the summer of 1944, the 351st concentrated on German oil production facilities.[4]
The squadron flew its last mission on 20 April 1945.[10] Following, V-E Day, the squadron was initially programmed to be part of the occupation forces in Germany, but that plan was cancelled in September, and between October and December, the squadron's planes were ferried back to the United States or transferred to other units in theater.[6] Its remaining personnel returned to the United States in December and the squadron was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation on 19 December 1945.[1]
"Bloody Hundredth"
Starting with the Regensburg mission of August 1943, the squadrons of the 100th Bombardment Group began suffering losses among the highest in VIII Bomber Command.[11] On 8 October, it lost seven aircraft on a raid on Bremen, including its lead and deputy lead aircraft.[12] Only two days later, it lost twelve aircraft on an attack on Münster, again including the lead aircraft. The only group plane returning from that mission had lost two engines and had two wounded on board.[13][d] Its highest one day loss occurred on the 6 March 1944 attack on Berlin, when 15 bombers failed to return.[14] On 11 September 1944, the Luftwaffe put up its heaviest opposition in months, destroying 11 of the group's bombers.[15] On 31 December 1944, half the 1st Bombardment Division's losses consisted of a dozen 100th bombers.[16] With a group authorization of 40 B-17s, it lost 177 planes to enemy action.[6] It became a legend for these losses and was referred to as the "Bloody Hundredth."[6]
Air Force reserve
The squadron was again activated in the reserve at Orlando Army Air Base, Florida on 17 July 1947 and assigned to the 100th Group, which was located at Miami Army Air Field, Florida. At Orlando, its training was supervised by Air Defense Command (ADC). It does not appear the squadron was fully staffed and was not equipped with operational aircraft.[1] In 1948, Continental Air Command assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.[17]
President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of Air Force units.[18] As a result, the 351st was inactivated[1] as manned flying operations at Orlando Air Force Base ceased.
Strategic Air Command bombardment operations
The unit was reactivated under Strategic Air Command on 1 January 1956 as the 351st Bombardment Squadron, Medium. Based at Portsmouth Air Force Base (later Pease AFB), New Hampshire, the 351st BS was equipped with 15 new, swept wing Boeing B-47E Stratojets which were designed to carry nuclear weapons and to penetrate Soviet air defenses. The 351st deployed to RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, from 29 December 1957 to 1 April 1958.[19]
The squadron flew the B-47 for about a decade when by the mid-1960s it had become obsolete and vulnerable to new Soviet air defenses. The squadron began to send its Stratojets to AMARC at Davis–Monthan AFB, Arizona, for retirement in 1965, and the unit was inactivated on 25 June 1966, one of the last B-47 Squadrons.[1]
Air refueling in Europe
The unit was reactivated at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, in the United Kingdom on 31 March 1992 as the 351st Air Refueling Squadron, operating the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker.[1] The first KC-135R to arrive at Mildenhall for the 351st was 58-0100 on 19 May 1992 from Loring Air Force Base, Maine.[20] Nine KC-135Rs had arrived by September 1992.[21] Following their reactivation, the 351st went on to support Operations Provide Comfort, Restore Hope and Northern Watch.[1]
In March 1998, the 351st participated in Exercise Strong Resolve 98 at Sola Air Station, Norway.[24] After the European Tanker Task Force was ended on 28 November 1998, the number of KC-135s assigned to the 351st was increased to 15 tankers.[25] In 1999, the squadron supported Operation Allied Force, NATO intervention during the Kosovo War, as the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron.[26]
In March 2011, the 351st Air Refueling Squadron deployed a portion of its KC-135 Stratotanker fleet to Istres-Le Tubé Air Base, France, in support of Operation Unified Protector, as the 351st EARS.[29]
On 22 February 2019, a KC-135R of the squadron participated in a flypast over Sheffield to mark the 75th anniversary of the crash of B-17G Mi Amigo, which saw the loss of all ten crew on board.[35]
Between 29 September and 1 October 2020, the 351st ARS conducted Exercise Wolff Pack, a surge operation to test the 100th ARW's ability to deploy its aircraft to multiple areas across Europe, which included an elephant walk of 12 of the squadron's 15 KC-135s.[36] The 351st ARS participated in the 2020 Nigeria hostage rescue on 31 October, forward deploying six tankers to Morón Air Base from where they provided air refueling support for the operation.[37]
The 15 squadron KC-135R/T tankers typically wear nose art to reflect the 100th Wing's history as a bombardment group during WWII.[20][h]
In 2019, to mark the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, two KC-135Rs received special schemes to reflect the squadron's participation in 1944.[44]
In May 2021, nose art (Skipper III) was unveiled on KC-135R, serial 59-1470 in honor of 100th BG Master Sergeant Dewey Christopher, who maintained B-17s Skipper and Skipper II during World War II.[45] Another tanker (serial 58-0089) was unveiled the following month in dedication of Lt. Col. Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal, who was assigned to the 100th Group between September 1943 and September 1944.[46]
In October 2023, nose art (Squawkin Hawk) was unveiled on KC-135R 59-1511 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Black Week, where the Eighth Air Force suffered heavy losses.[47] The original Squawkin Hawk was the first B-17 of the 100th Bombardment Group to fly 50 combat missions.[48]
Lineage
Constituted as the 351st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
Activated on 1 June 1942
Redesignated 351st Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 15 December 1945
Redesignated 351st Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 3 July 1947
Activated in the reserve on 17 July 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
Redesignated 351st Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 1 August 1955
Activated on 1 January 1956
Discontinued and inactivated on 25 June 1966
Redesignated 351st Air Refueling Squadron on 26 March 1992
^Aircraft is Boeing KC-135R, serial 57-1493, Wolff Pack. Built as Boeing KC-135A-BN, later re-engined as KC-135R. Named for a B-17F, serial 42-30061 that served with the 100th Bombardment Group in World War II. Baugher, Joe (29 April 2023). "1942 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
^Approved 16 September 1958. Description: On an Air Force blue disc bordered white, an Air Force golden yellow shield charged with two Air Force blue lightning streaks in saltire, surmounted by a red bomb in fess, pointing downward; above the shield an Air Force golden yellow helmet in profile with red plume; in the upper part of the border the motto, in the lower part of the border a green olive wreath.
^In addition to the squadrons of the 100th Group, the formation included those of the 95th Bombardment Group.
^This plane, named Rosie's Riveter was lost in the spring of 1945, but its crew was able to bail out in Russian held territory.
^Aircraft is Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker, serial 57-1499, The Big Stick. Baugher 1957 USAF Serial Numbers.
^Aircraft is Boeing KC-135R, serial 58-0100, built as KC-135A-BN. Earlier named 100 Proof. Aircraft has 100th Bombardment Group emblem on nose and carried fuselage code EP-A to commemorate the 75th anniverdary of D-Day. Baugher, 1958 serial numbers.
^Aircraft is Boeing KC-135R, serial 58-0001, Our Gal Sal in 2018, comemmorating B-17G, serial 42-31767. Built as Boeing KC-135!-BN and earlier named Easy Rider.
^Since 2023 this has included All American Girl (B-17G 42-37936) "42-37936". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Big Gas Bird (B-17G, serial 42-30799' of the 349th Bombardment Squadron)"42-30799". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Black Jack (B-17G, serial 42-30086)"Aircraft: 230086". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Boss Lady (B-17G, serial 42-102611 of the 350th Bombardment Squadron)"42-102611". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; High Life (B-17F, serial 42-30080)"42-30080". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Holy Terror (B-17G, serial 42-31062)"42-31062". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Homesick Angel;[20]Hundred Proof (B-17G, serial 42-98015 of the 349th Bombardment Squadron)"Aircraft: 298015". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Miss Irish (B-17G, serial 42-31968 of the 350th Bombardment Squadron)"42-31968". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Our Gal Sal (B-17G, erial 42-31767)"42-31767". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Skipper III (B-17F, serial 42-3307 and B-17G, serial 42-31708 of the 351st Bombardment Squadron)"Aircraft: 23307". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 16 May 2021."Aircraft: 231708". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 16 May 2021.; Rosie's Riveters (B-17F, serial 42-30758 and B-17G, serial 42-31504 of the 418th Bombardment Squadron)"Aircraft: 230758". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 11 June 2021."Aircraft: 231504". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 11 June 2021.; Sly Fox (B-17F, serial 42-30278 of the 418th Bombardment Squadron)"42-30278". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Squawkin Hawk (B-17F, serial 42-30088 of the 349th Bombardment Squadron)"42-30088 Squawkin Hawk II". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 14 October 2023.; The Jester (not associated);[20]The Reluctant Dragon (B-17G, serial 43-38011 of the 349th Bombardment Squadron)"43-38011". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; The Savage (B-17G, serial 42-31710 of the 349th Bombardment Squadron)"42-31710". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Wolff Pack (B-17F, serial '42-30061 of the 418th Bombardment Squadron)"42-30061". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors: Insignia and Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II. Vol. I (VIII) Bomber Command. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN978-0-7643-1987-7.