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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.
This contains information written on the back of the original print and some of it may be inaccurate.
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? '
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
Assigned to the 384th BG on Gowen Field (Boise, Idaho) Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, Ralph R. Pulcipher Crew. 12 combat missions.
...
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator
Assigned to the 384th BG on Gowen Field (Boise, Idaho) Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, R Pulcipher Crew. 12 combat missions.
...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner
Assigned to the 384th BG on Gowen Field (Boise, Idaho) Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, R Pulcipher Crew. 13 combat missions.
...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner
Assigned to the 384th BG on Gowen Field (Boise, Idaho) Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, Ralph R. Pulcipher Crew. 12 combat missions.
...
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier
Assigned to the 384th BG on Gowen Field (Boise, Idaho) Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, R Pulcipher Crew. 12 combat missions
...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner
Assigned to the 384th BG on Gowen Field (Boise, Idaho) Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, Ralph R. Pulcipher Crew. 13 combat missions.
...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner
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 | Colonel | Pilot
First Commanding Officer of 384th Bomb Group and instigator of the Scouting Force concept, to enable the bomber stream to change course in good time if target area was obscured.
...
Military | Master Sergeant | Radio Operator Gunner
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
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
B-17 Flying Fortress
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...
28 June 1943
The primary specific target for this mission are the lock gates at St. Nazaire, France to be attacked by two separate formations and also another force is despatched to bomb the German airfield at Beaumon Le Roger, France. A formation of 120 B-17s of...
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...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 09 February 2015 01:42:08 | bombercommand | Changes to caption, person associations, place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
384thbombgroup.com |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 02 February 2015 09:59:54 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection |
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