42-31040 Duffy's Tavern

Major Walter Fulkerson, also known as "Duffy", watches ground crewman Sergeant Anton Kofman paint the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31040) nicknamed "Duffy's Tavern" that has been named after Fulkerson. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Jan 1944.' [stamp] and '300535.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'CHRISTENING OF "DUFFY'S TAVERN". "Duffy" is the nickname of one of the most widely known and beloved air officers in the ETO. He media-380024.jpg FRE 1228 Major Walter Fulkerson, also known as "Duffy", watches ground crewman Sergeant Anton Kofman paint the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31040) nicknamed "Duffy's Tavern" that has been named after Fulkerson. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Jan 1944.' [stamp] and '300535.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'CHRISTENING OF "DUFFY'S TAVERN". "Duffy" is the nickname of one of the most widely known and beloved air officers in the ETO. He is Major Walter Fulkerson, a former airline pilot of Phoenix, Arizona. Photo shows:- "Duffy" himself supervises the painting and christening of the Flying Fortress "Duffy's Tavern" as it is made ready to join the thousands of other Forts in raiding Germany. Sgt. Anton Kofman, air and engineer mechanic, of Cicero, Ill. is doing the painting.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1228 - Major Walter Fulkerson, also known as "Duffy", watches ground crewman Sergeant Anton Kofman paint the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial...

Delivered Cheyenne 13/9/43; Scott 21/9/43; Assigned 527BS/379BG [FO-A] Kimbolton 27/9/43. [The crewmen shown in FRE 1236 would have been Captain Arvid Dahl's crew:

Pilot Captain Arvid O. Dahl, Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Charles N. Ballou Jr, Navigator 2nd Lt Charles E.

Hebert Jr, Bombardier 2nd Lt Charles M. Olson, Radio Operator/Gunner S/Sgt Edgar A. Delaney Jr, Top Turret Gunner S/Sgt John B. McCullen, Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt Marshall L. Fisher, Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt Robert (NMI) Rickel, Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt Edgar M. Taylor.]

Missing in Action Frankfurt 29 January 1944 with Capt Douglas K. Hoverkamp, Navigator: Meyles A. Sheppard, Radio Operator: Orvin V. Taylor, Ball Turret gunner: Benjamin H. St John, Left Waist gunner: Clement C. Budelman, Right Waist gunner: Howard W. Lawson, Tail Gunner: Warren J. Prosperi (7 evaded capture). Co-pilot: Ernest J. Hoppe, Bombardier: Frank Paisano Jr (initially evaded-arrested in May 1944), Flight engineer/Top Turret gunner: Wendell J. Shepard (initially evaded-captured 28 March 1944 in Friedrichssegen, SE of Koblenz, Germany, on his way to Switzerland) - (3 Prisoners of War). Shot down by enemy aircraft, crashed Chenogne, near Sibret, 7km SW of Bastogne, Belgium. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 2873. DUFFY'S TAVERN.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17061628 / O-738066
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32455301
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-735753
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39612777
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17029587 / O-680218
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Cheyenne AAF, WY 13 September 1943 Delivered Cheyenne AAF 13-Sep-43.

Assigned

Kimbolton, UK 27 September 1943 Assigned to 527BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

Chenogne, near Sibret, 7km SW of Bastogne, Belgium 29 January 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Frankfurt 29-Jan-44; shot down by enemy aircraft, crashed Chenogne, near Sibret, 7km SW of Bastogne, Belgium.

Manufactured

Long Beach, CA Built at Boeing.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 2873

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Changed key image, as the names of the crewmen shown in FRE 1236 are mentioned in the Biography for 42-31040 and refer thus to this photo and not to FRE 1228

Date
Contributorcody1947
Changes
Sources

Mission Records of the 379th BG

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 2873 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-31040: Gallery (2 items)