Harold Fulgham

Military

CPT Harold Fulgham was assigned to 303rd Bomb Group on 13-Sep-42 at Kellogg Field, Battle Creek, Michigan as a Navigator. He was assigned to B-17F 41-24577 "Hells Angels", 303BG/358BS on 16-Oct-1942 at Kellogg Field, Battle Creek, Michigan as the Navigator. He arrived at Molesworth, UK on 24-Oct-42 with B-17F 41-24577. He participated in 3 Operations, two of which he served as Lead Navigator for the Group. (See Biography events).



On his third mission - 23-Nov-42, CPT Fulgham was serving as Lead Navigator on B-17F 41-24609 "Holy Mackerel", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Baot pens at St. Nazaire, France. The aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire over the target which blew out the interphone, damaged hydraulic lines and wounded CPT Fulgham. The hydraulic fluid was spewing into the Navigator's compartment and CPT Fulgham thought that it was blood and that the Pilot, MAJ George L. Robinson had been killed (mistaken) and that the aircraft was going down, so he baled out of the aircraft in a panic and was captured as a POW. No MACR was prepared.



POW PH

Connections

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Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

A/C 41-24508  Time's A Wastin!  Pilot William H Warner 306BG
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Time's A Wastin'
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group
A B-17 Flying Fortress (VK-D, serial number 41-24577) nicknamed "Hell's Angel" of the 358th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group in flight. Passed for publication 21 Aug 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Hell's Angel. L1721/29.' Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A Flying Fortress wearing the new recognition symbol of the U.S.A.A.F. and fitted with toughened glass "windows" in the air.' On reverse: The Aeroplane Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hell's Angels
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
Sergeant Vernon E. Carlson, of the 303rd Bomb Group, paints the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Holy Mackeral". Passed for publication 16 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: '"Everything under control" is the optimistic message sent by Sgt. Vernon E. Carlson of the Air Corps, whose home is at 1431 N. Mayfield Ave, Chicago. He used to be with the Goetz Elevator Co. He is 29 and unmarried. O.P.S. shows him painting "Holy Mackerel" on a plane.' On reverse: Current Affairs Ltd, US Army Press C
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Holy Mackerel
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Asssigned to Group

Battle Creek, MI, USA 13 September 1942 Assigned to the 303BG as a Navigator on 13-Sep-42 at Kellogg Field, Battle Creek, Michigan.

Other

Assigned to Aircraft

Battle Creek, MI, USA 16 October 1942 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F 41-24577 "Hells Angels" 303BG/358BS on 16-Oct-42 at Kellogg Field, Battle Ceek Michigan.

Other

Arrived in UK

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 24 October 1942 Arrived with B-17F 41-24577 "Hells Angels", 303BG/358BS at Molesworth, UK.

Other

Mission #1, CPT Harold Fulgham, w/B-17F 41-24577, 303BG/358BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 17 November 1942 Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24577 "Hells Angels", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Baot pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2, CPT Harold Fulgham, w/B-17F 41-24508, 303BG/358BS

Lorient, France 22 November 1942 Served as Lead Navigator on B-17F 41-24508 "Hell Cat", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #3, CPT Harold Fulgham, w/B-17F 41-245609, 303BG/359BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 23 November 1942 Served as Lead Navigator on B-17F 41-24609, 303BG/359BS on mission to bomb the U-boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. The aircraft was hit by flak, but not shot down, and he was wounded and in a panic baled out of the stricken aircraft and was captured as a Prisoner of War.

Other

Prisoner of War

Moosburg, Germany 23 November 1942 - 9 June 1945 Held at Stalag 7A, Moosburg, Bavaria. Officially Returned to Military Control (RMC) 9-Jun-45/

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Dec-2015. Added POW event per National Archives Records Administration (VARA) WWII POW database.

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ContributorLee8thbuff
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Lee Cunningham 7-Dec-2015. Added Mission #3 event pwer 303BG website, Gary Moncur, historian, Mission Report of 23-Nov-42.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
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Lee Cunningham 7-Dec-2015. Added Mission #2 event pwer 303BG website, Gary Moncur, historian, Mission Report of 22-Nov-42.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
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Lee Cunningham 6-Dec-2015. Added Mission #1 event pwer 303BG website, Gary Moncur, historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
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Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Dec-2015. Added Assigne to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, historian, Irl Baldwin crew page.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Dec-2015 Added PH decoration per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, historian.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Dec-2015. Added Assigned to Group event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, historian, Irl E. Baldwin crew page.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Dec-2015. Added NEW person entry based on 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Irl E. Baldwin crew page.