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B-17 Flying Fortress
A B-17F Flying Fortress (SO-S, serial number 42-5843) nicknamed "Black Ghost" of the 547th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17F-25-VE "Black Ghost" 42-5483 SO*S, 547BS 384BG. Lost Sept 6. 1943, R. Pulcipher crew.' On reverse: From Tim Bivens Collection [Stamp].
The insignia of the 547th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group.
A bomber crew led by Ralph E. Pulcipher of the 547th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group with their B-17F Flying Fortress (SO-S, serial number 42-5843) nicknamed "Black Ghost". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Ralph E. Pulcipher crew, 547BS, 384BG. Lost on Sept. 6, 1943 aboard B-17F-25-VE "Black Ghost" 42-5843, SO*S. 7 POW, 3 EVD (their 14th mission).' On reverse: From Tim Bivens Collection [Stamp]. Caption from Tim Bivens: 'I recently obtained the enclosed pix from Mr. William McLain who flew in the 384th BG. I research the B-17F they were shot down in, “Black Ghost”, which was coded SO*S. The enclosed crew photo shows them by the right side of this Fort, but the codes read S*OS. I’ve never noticed codes arranged this way, probably should have been S*SO don’t you think? ' This image was taken after a mission on 28 June 1943. Back Row: William Eudey (N), *James Ray Martin-Vegue (N), *Robert E. Langlois (TG), Ralph R. Pulcipher (CP), Col Budd J. Peaslee (P, Group Commander), Paul S. Givens (B). Front Row: Asbury Lee Perkins (R), Willard D. Mclain (BT), Judson L. Dacus (Eng/TT), Thomas E. Furrey (WG), Joe M. Hawkins (WG). Langlois, a pilot, was assigned the tail gun position to serve as formation observer.
Delivered Long Beach 17/3/43; Sioux City 13/4/43; Kearney 4/5/43; Dow Fd 20/5/43; Assigned 547BS/384BG [SO-S] Grafton Underwood 29/5/43; Missing in Action Stuttgart 6/9/43 with Ralph R. Pulcipher, Co-pilot: Merle Johnson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Thomas E. Furrey, Radio Operator: Asbury Lee Perkins (4 evaded capture), Navigator: William Eudey, Bombardier: Paul S. Givens, Ball turret gunner: Willard D. McLain, Waist gunner: Joe M. Hawkins, Waist gunner: Judson L. Dacus,Tail gunner: Albert F. Gase (6 Prisoner of War); no gas, crashed Beauvais, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 1455 & 774. BLACK GHOST.
Group
The 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by...
Squadron
Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer/Top Turret Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Assigned to the 384th BG on Gowen Field (Boise, Idaho) Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, Ralph R. Pulcipher Crew. 12 combat missions.
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Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 384th Bomb Group
Assigned to the 384th BG on Gowen Field (Boise, Idaho) Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, R Pulcipher Crew. 12 combat missions.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Assigned to the 384th BG on Gowen Field (Boise, Idaho) Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, R Pulcipher Crew. 13 combat missions.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Assigned to the 384th BG on Gowen Field (Boise, Idaho) Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, Ralph R. Pulcipher Crew. 12 combat missions.
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Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 384th Bomb Group
Assigned to the 384th BG on Gowen Field (Boise, Idaho) Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, R Pulcipher Crew. 12 combat missions
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Assigned to the 384th BG on Gowen Field (Boise, Idaho) Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, Ralph R. Pulcipher Crew. 13 combat missions.
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Military | First Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 384th Bomb Group
10 combat missions. Shot down on B-17 42-5843, BLACK GHOST, 6 September 1943. EVADED, MACR 1455
Escape and Evasion Report Number 220
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down by fighters and flak in B-17 42-5843 SO-S, BLACK GHOST; crashed near Beauvais, France; MACR 1455. EVADED
Escape and Evasion Report Number 270
Military | Master Sergeant | Radio Operator Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Moved overseas with the Ralph R. Pulcipher crew. 12 combat missions.
Shot down 6 September 1943 in B-17 #42-5843 'Black Ghost'. Missing Air Crew Report #1455.
Evaded.
Escape and Evasion Report Number 221
Military | Captain | Pilot | 384th Bomb Group
42-5843 'BLACK GHOST' shot down 6 September 1943 by fighters and flak; crashed near Beauvais, France; MACR 1455.
Escape and Evasion Report Number 168
6 September 1943
This mission was planned as massive attack of 338 B-17s on the industrial areas of Stuttgart, Germany and would be supported by a formation of 69 B-24s flying a diversion. This would be the first action from the UK for the B-24 Groups that had recently...
Military site : airfield
Grafton Underwood was built in 1941 by George Wimpey and Co. Ltd. It was the first airfield in England to receive an Eighth Air Force flying unit, when in May 1942 personnel of the 15th Bomb Squadron took up residence. As a satellite airfield for...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to Return (FTR) | Beauvais, France | 6 September 1943 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 17 February 2015 00:52:25 | bombercommand | Changes to description and events |
| Sources | ||
384thbombgroup.com |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 February 2015 00:03:09 | bombercommand | Changes to nicknames, unit associations, place associations, mission associations and media associations |
| Sources | ||
384thbombgroup.com |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:57 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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