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28 June 1943
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.
Lt. Frank Robert Spitznagel and crew. 364th Squadron, 305th BG. Assembled June 18, 1943 in front of their B-17 #42-29633, nicknamed "SpitzFire" (Personnel noted Back Row Left - Right; Front Row L-R)
Buffalo Evening News photo about the St. Nazaire raid on 28.06.43. Featuring Lt. Frank R. Spitznagel, 305th BG, 364th Squadron. Lt. Dave Cox; Lt. Robert Metcalf
Lt. Carroll Dayle Briscoe flying the Joan of Arc (42-29477), the plane his crew became known for. 1943
Not yet known
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 1st Bomb Wing from: 91BG (20); 92BG (16); 305BG (21); 306BG (21); 351BG (20); and 381BG (22) is despatched to St. Nazaire, France. Of the 13 aircraft despatched by 92BG 6 are YB-40 gunships. This force gets a figher escort part way along the route. German fighter opposition is moderate and flak is moderate. 104 of the 120 B-17s despatched are effective on the target. 5 B-17s are MIA (4 from 351BG). The bomber gunners claim 28-6-8 of the enemy aircraft.
A second formation of 71 B-17s of 4th Bomb Wing from: 94BG (13); 95BG (21); 96BG (16); and 100BG (21) is despatched to St. Nazaire to attack approximately 15 minutes later that the the first formation. Because of the time lag, fighter resistance is light. 54 of the 71 B-17s despatched are effective on the target. 3 B-17 are MIA, all three sustaining damage from AA fire which punctures the fuel tanks and all three run out of gas and are forced to ditch into the English Channel. All three crews are rescued by ASR. There are no claims on enemy aircraft by this formation.
A force of 50B-17s from: 303BG (18); 379BG (14); and 382BG (18) is despathed to bomb the German airfield at Beaumont Le Roger, France. This formation gets a fighter escort by Spitfires from the RAF. 43 of the 50 B017s despatched are effective on the target. There are no losses or claims in this formation.
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
This 1st Bomb Wing element had no fighter support, but suffered no losses or casualties.
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Group
The 379th Bomb Group (H) (heavy), based at Kimbolton, flew more sorties than any other Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force and dropped a greater bomb tonnage than any other Group. The B-17 Flying Fortress Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit...
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 103.20 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 50 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 43 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 6 |
LOCKS and GATES PORT
B-17 Flying Fortress
This 4th Bomb Wing element receives RAF Spitfire escort part way to the target. Some of the B-17s in this element were equipped with the new long range "Tokyo Tanks" , the first time they were used. All 3 95th Bomb Group Missing in Action (MIA) aircraft crews were saved by ASR.
Group
"The Bloody Hundredth", so-called because of a reputation for losing a high number aircraft and crews, flew B-17s from Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk. Their losses were not the highest of any Eighth Air Force Group but on several occasions the Group lost many...
Group
Activated 15 June 1942 at MacDill Field, Florida. Initial organization and training at Pendleton Field, Oregon on 29 June 1942. Primary flight training at Davis-Monthan Field in Arizona from 28 Aug. 42 to 31 Oct. 42; then at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas...
Group
The 95th Bomb Group was the only Eighth Air Force Group to be awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations. The first, shared by all four Bomb Wing Groups, was for the bombing of an aircraft factory under intense enemy fire at Regensburg on 17 August...
| Tonnage dropped | 102.53 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 71 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 54 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 3 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 7 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 30 |
LOCKS and GATES PORT
B-17 Flying Fortress
This 1st Bomb Wing element receives P-47 fighter escort part way to the target.
Group
The 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), nicknamed "Can Do" was activated 1-March-1942 at Salt Lake City Air Base, Utah which was their primary training base until 11-Jun-1942 when they relocated to Geiger Field, Washington until 29-Jun-1942, then on to...
Group
Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF Eighth Air Force in September 1942 Station 111 Thurleigh. During combat,...
Group
The 351st Bomb Group flew strategic bombing missions from their base at Polebrook, Northamptonshire from April 1943 to June 1945. The Group's most famous member was Hollywood actor Clark Gable, who flew four/ five missions with them as an observer...
Group
The 381st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Ridgewell, Essex between June 1943 and April 1945. The Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations, the first for bombing shipyards at Bremen, whilst under heavy attack, on 8 October 1943 and...
Group
The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...
Group
The 92nd Group sometime after arrivial in the UK converted to the role of in-theater combat crew indocrination and training. For this role, the Group traded its B-17F complement and obtained the B-17E, mostly from the 97th BG which was departing for...
| Tonnage dropped | 197.47 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 120 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 104 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 5 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 57 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 31 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 9 |
| Number of people Evaded | 2 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 19 |
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Flight Engineer/Waist Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Military | Technical Sergeant | Aerial Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
18 November 1942 in 'Fury' B-17 #41-2499 bombs could not be released so were jettisoned in an open field. On return, 10 miles SW of Exeter, A/C collided with #41-24553 which was able to land safely; however Fury landed at RAF Turweston and was salvaged.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner/Waist Gunner | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
Shot down 14 October 1943 in B-17 42-30231. Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Colonel | Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
He reported to group on 15 Jan 1943. He was the 35th Officer to complete 25 missions. Reported on 05 Feb 1945 with the 2AF weather scouts. Retired as a Colonel from the USAF in 1972.
...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
Assigned to 407BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. Took off from Goose Bay in YB-40 42-5732 en route to Meeks Field, Iceland but there was a severe storm in that area. Aiming toward an alternate base while dealing with the storm, the plane was running out of fuel....
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot/Command Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Navigator | 100th Bomb Group
RTD. B-17F #42-3393 'Just-A-Snappin'. On mission to Bremen on 8 Oct 1943 A/C severely damaged by flak and enemy fighters. A/C returned to base alone and crashed near Ludham. Harry wrote "On a Wing and a Prayer" about his experiences.
...
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Tail Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Crossley was credited with 12 confirmed e/a kills. A record for 8th AF gunners.
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 95th Bomb Group
Shot down 10 October 1943 in B-17 #4230817 'Miss Flower III. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned to the 359BS/303BG [BN-R] Bangor 22-Sep-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42; First 8th Air Force aircraft to complete 50, then 75 missions- 27-Mar-44; with M/Sgt Buford Pafford as crew chief; 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 5-Jun-44; Reconstruction Finance...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 4/1/43; Salina 12/1/43; Homestead 1/2/43; Morrison 9/2/43; Assigned 366BS/305BG [KY-O] Chelveston 10/2/43; transferred 547BS/384BG [SO-S] Grafton Underwood 20/9/43; battle damaged Munster 10/10/43, with Bill Kopf, Co-pilot: Alf Scott,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 12/2/43; Walker 23/2/43; Smoky Hill 28/3/43; Presque 8/4/43; Assigned 413BS/96BG Grafton Underwood 18/4/43 MOOR-FIDITE; Andrews Fd 13/5/43; Snetterton 12/6/43; transferred 532BS/381BG [VE-E] Ridgewell 16/7/43; Missing in Action...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 21/2/43; Gore 7/3/43; Assigned 334BS/95BG [BG-Q] Alconbury 19/4/43 LITTLE JIMMIE;
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 2/4/43; Sioux City 13/4/43; Kearney 4/5/43; Bangor 20/5/43; Assigned to the 547BS/384BG [S0-G] Grafton Underwood 24/5/43, then the 546BS [BK-G]; Missing in Action Leverkusen 1/12/43 with Maj Maurice Stanley Dillingham, Co-pilot:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 6/4/43; Gore 14/4/43; Kearney 16/4/43; Wendover 2/5/43; Hill 16/5/43; Kearney 22/5/43; Dow Fd 30/5/43; Assigned 413BS/96BG [MZ-X] Andrews Fd 2/6/43; RUM BOOGIE II; transferred 418BS/100BG [LD-U] Thorpe Abbotts 9/6/43; as war weary F...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 10/5/43; Gore 20/5/43; Smoky Hill 21/5/43; Dow Fd 30/5/43; Assigned 334BS/95BG [BG-B] Horham 15/6/43; 2m, Missing in Action St Nazaire 28/6/43 with Sell Smith, Co-pilot: J.W. Hargrove, Navigator: Lester Moreland, Bombardier: Raoul...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Plane Mischief Maker II entered combat approximately Jun43 under command of Capt V.L. Iverson after the original Mischief Maker was damaged beyond repair. After this crew completed 25 missions Maj. Iverson was retained for HQ USSTAF, the crew...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 20/2/43; 19/4/43; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-U] Molesworth 4/6/43; RWG Leon Kesky Killed in ActionSchweinfurt 17/8/43; 40m Missing in Action Oschersleben 11/1/44 with John Carothers, Co-pilot: Chas Frost, Radio Operator: George Rajcula...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 15/4/43; Dow Fd 28/5/43; Assigned 334BS/95BG [BG-A] Framlingham 28/5/43; Horham 15/6/43; (2m) Missing in Action St Nazaire 28/6/43 with Bill Thomas, Co-pilot: Jim Stapleton, Navigator: Collis Haynes, Bombardier: Bill Prochaska, Flight...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 15 January 2016 19:26:49 | Mags | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
303rd BG Web Page |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 January 2015 19:40:11 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2015. Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:17 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham, 8th Air Force missions research database / Stan Bishop's 'Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces', the Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces and the work of Roger Freeman including the 'Mighty Eighth War Diary'. |
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