Pulcipher, Ralph Robert

Individual Personnel Data
Name Pulcipher, Ralph Robert   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / Captain
Serial Number O-665337   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, effective 1 February 1943.
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 19 November 1943, effective 15 November 1943.
  • Transferred to the 8th Air Force Comp. Command, per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 27 November 1943., effective 27 November 1943.
Duty Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 6 September 1943
Results Evaded Capture
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 6 September 1943 per General Orders #201, Headquarters Eighth Air Force dated 5 November 1943.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 5 October 1919
  • Promoted to First Lieutenant on 12 April 1943 per 547th Bomb Squadron Unit History.
  • Captain Pulcipher was shot down on 6 September 1943, he evaded capture and was returned to Allied Control on 27 October 1943 at Gibraltar, UK. He was reassigned to the 384th Bomb Group, 547th Bomb Squadron on 15 November 1943 and placed on Temporary Duty to Headquarters, 8th Air Force on 15 November 1943. He was relieved from assignment to the 547th Bomb Squadron reassigned to the 8th Air Force Comp. Command per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 27 November 1943.
  • Ordered to travel to London for one day on or about 21 November 1943, purpose Official Business per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #149 dated 20 November 1943.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 1455⇓ (8.347 MB)
Escape & Evasion Report # 168⇓ (Filesize N/A)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Pulcipher, Ralph RobertPilotEV
2nd Lt. Frink, Horace Everett, "Ev"⇗Co-pilotTR
2nd Lt. Eudey, William (NMI)⇗NavigatorPOW
Flt. Ofcr. Givens, Paul Steurer⇗BombardierPOW
SGT. Lascu, James, Jr⇗Radio Operator / GunnerTR
S/SGT. Dacus, Judson Leroy⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. McLain, Willard Douglas⇗Ball Turret GunnerEV
SGT. Gase, Albert Francis⇗Tail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Furrey, Thomas Edwin, Jr⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
SGT. Hawkins, Joe M, Jr⇗Flexible GunnerPOW

Crew History

The Pulcipher Crew joined the 547th BS at Wendover on 1 February 1943. Some time after 11 March, and prior to 17 May 1943, copilot Horace E 'Ev' Frink was given command of the LeFevre Crew, for unknown reasons, and Frink was replaced by Merle Johnson. The resulting crew flew most of its missions together in B-17F 42-5843 SO*S 'BLACK GHOST'.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 12 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
2⇗ 25 June 1943 Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens
Type: Military
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Pilot 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Jettisoned bombs on enemy-occupied Terschelling Island.
Sortie Report⇗
4⇗ 28 June 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France 		Co-pilot 42‑5843⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
5⇗ 29 June 1943 Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Pilot 42‑5843⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low Squadron Lead. Turned back due to #1 engine failure.
Sortie Report⇗
6⇗ 4 July 1943 Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France 		Pilot 42‑5843⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
-- 9 July 1943 None
Non-combat sortie 		Pilot 42‑5843⇗ HSqLd
Sortie Report⇗
7⇗ 10 July 1943 Target: Drucat Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Abbeville, France 		Pilot 42‑5843⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
9⇗ 24 July 1943 Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Herøya, Norway 		Pilot 42‑5843⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
15⇗ 15 August 1943 Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France 		Pilot 42‑5843⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
16⇗ 16 August 1943 Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Pilot 42‑5843⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
17⇗ 17 August 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Pilot 42‑5843⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
18⇗ 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France 		Pilot 42‑5843⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
19⇗ 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Pilot 42‑5843⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
20⇗ 3 September 1943 Target: Air Park and Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Pilot 42‑5843⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. A British Army observer and war correspondent, Maj. Anthony Cotterell, flew with this crew.
Sortie Report⇗
21⇗ 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Pilot 42‑5843⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Shot down by fighters and flak; crashed near Beauvais, France; MACR 1455.
Sortie Report⇗

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