Ploesti B-24 Gunner Documents and History

[JBaird]

I have acquired some items regarding TSgt George W. Fulfer, who was a top turret gunner/engineer on the B-24 Fertile Myrtle on the famous Ploesti bombing mission on August 1, 1943. My Grandfather also flew on this mission on a different B-24, Black Jack. I've been doing some research on TSgt Fulfer, and over time have come up with this narrative of his service with the USAAF and later with the US Navy. Enjoy.

[JBaird]

Don't see much anymore about the Ploesti guys... so I hope you enjoy. A little long, but a lot of history for this hero!

 

George Washington Fulfer enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on December 9, 1941, at Lubbock, Texas. This was two-days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. George Fulfer was trained as an aerial gunner on Boeing B-24D Liberators. B-24D’s were equipped with Browning M2 .50 caliber machine guns in the tail, top, sides and nose to defend it from attacking enemy fighters (some were later equipped with a belly turret). It is unknown at this time where George Fulfer attended basic training and/or aerial gunnery school. George Fulfer attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (TSgt) during his USAAF service.

TSgt Fulfer was assigned to the 98th Bombardment Group, 415th Bomb Squadron. February 3, 1943, sortie reports show he was with the squadron, which was based at Tobruk, Lybia at the time. The 415th moved it’s operations to Benina, Libya, on February 11, 1943. The 415th conducted bombing missions in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations from these bases.

Research found sortie reports for February, March and April 1943. It appears TSgt Fulfer was assigned to the “Fertile Myrtle” during these sorties. These reports detail quite a bit of information regarding life in a B-24D during bombing missions. Mechanical problems, stuck bombs, enemy fighter attacks and anti-aircraft fire seemed to be the order of the day for these missions.

On July 2, 1943, during a bombing mission on the Lecee Airdrome (Italy), TSgt Fulfer watched as the B-24 “D’Artagnan” was attacked and shot down by BF 109G-6 enemy fighter aircraft. TSgt Fulfer saw two of the crew members bail out of the B-24 and watched their parachutes deploy. The “D’Artagnan” loss resulted in 4 crew members killed in action and 6 crew members becoming prisoners of war. A copy of the Missing Aircrew report is contained in this research folder. TSgt Fulfer’s statement as to what he saw is documented in the report.

The most “famous” mission, at least according to the history books, TSgt Fulfer participated in was the low-level bombing mission on the Ploesti oil fields in Romania on August 1, 1943. On this raid, the 98th Bombardment Group launched 47 B-24s, with only 21 returning safely. One B-24D crashed on takeoff, resulting in the loss of all crew members except two. Six B-24D’s aborted before reaching the target. 17 more B-24D’s went down in enemy territory and two went down at sea. The Group Commander, Col. John R. (Killer) Kane was awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership during the mission.

During the Ploesti mission, TSgt Fulfer again was a crew member of the “Fertile Myrtle.” Their target at the Ploesti oil fields was designated “White IV.” “White IV” would be attacked by five sections of the 98th Bombardment Group, identified as sections “A” through “E”. The “Fertile Myrtle” was the lead B-24D of section “B” (Element 2). The sortie report for this mission lists TSgt Fulfer as the radio operator/top turret gunner.

The “Fertile Myrtle” took off from Benina Main at 0410 (GMT), en route to the target. At 0905 hours (GMT), they saw a B-24D explode and crash into the water. At 1210 hours (GMT) the “Fertile Myrtle” reached the target. Flying in the #1 position, four 1,000 lb. bombs were released from a height of 240 feet. Four boxes of British incendiaries were also dropped over the target. During the strike, they saw two B-24D’s hit and crash to the ground. Two other B-24D’s were seen on fire and both also crashed to the ground. Anti-aircraft fire was found to be extremely heavy at the target.

Immediately after leaving the target area, the “Fertile Myrtle” and the rest of Element 2 were jumped by 14 enemy ME-110’s and JU-88’s. The enemy pursuit planes engaged the formation off and on for 45 minutes. One enemy pursuit plane was seen crashing to the ground near the target area. The “Fertile Myrtle” was fortunate to have not been attacked by any of these enemy fighters.

At 1400 hours (GMT) the formation was again jumped by eight FW-109’s and unidentified bi-planes. Again, none of the enemy fighters made a pass at the “Fertile Myrtle.”

At 1538 hours (GMT) the formation was again jumped by 15 ME-109’s. One of the fighters made a pass at the “Fertile Myrtle” during this engagement. Two more B-24D’s were observed crashing into the ocean. One parachute was seen to open from a crew member of one of these aircraft. Two other men were seen to jump from the same B-24 at a height of 150 feet, their parachutes failing to open. It is reported in the sortie report that TSgt Fulfer received a wound to his right thigh from an enemy bullet during the mission.

At 1702 hours (GMT) a B-24D was observed making a water landing. No rafts were observed afterward.

After a flight lasting 14 hours and 5 minutes, the “Fertile Myrtle” returned to and safely landed at Benina Main at 1815 hours. The “Fertile Myrtle” was fortunate to have sustained relatively light damage and TSgt Fuller was the only injured crew member. For his actions, TSgt Fulfer received a Distinguished Flying Cross (Oak Leaf Cluster) and the Purple Heart for the Ploesti mission.

Years later an article was written in the Los Angles Examiner in which TSgt Fulfer (now a Lieutenant in the US Navy) was interviewed. Lt. Fulfer related Ploesti was his 39th, and last, bombing mission. He knew he was going to be killed on this mission. He said he prayed to God and asked him to let him live. He told God if he let him live, he would serve him however he wanted.

Lt. Fulfer kept the promise he made to God. He was discharged from the Army Air Forces in September of 1945. He enrolled in college and received his Bachelor of Arts at Eastern New Mexico College in 1949. He then enrolled in the Golden Gate Baptist Theology Seminary in Berkeley, California, to continue his studies. He graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Divinity in 1951. He was the Priest of Bethel Baptist Church in Richmond, California, from 1949 through 1950.

George W. Fulfer was sworn into the US Navy Reserve on December 4, 1951, as a Lt(jg) with the Chaplain Corps (service number 552473). He reported for duty February 4, 1952, with the 12th Naval District in San Francisco.

Beginning with January 1, 1951, the Chief of Chaplains adopted the policy of sending all newly commissioned Regular and Reserve Chaplains to an eight week course at the Chaplains School at Newport, Rhode Island. These classes were part of the General Line Schools, which would later be called Naval Schools. Lt(jg) Fulfer attended Chaplain Class 2 - 52 from March 24 through May 15, 1952.

Lt(jg) Fulfer was transferred and assigned to Destroyer Squadron 20 (DesRon 20) on May 29, 1952. DesRon 20 was based at Newport, Rhode Island. He remained there until October 1953.

Lt(jg) Fulfer was transferred and assigned to Fleet Air Service Squadron 2 (FasRon 2), Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, Rhode Island during October 1953. He remained there until September 1954. While there, he was promoted to Lieutenant on July 2, 1954.

Lt. Fulfer was transferred and assigned to Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS), Kingsville Field, Texas. He remained there until September 1956.

Lt. Fulfer was transferred and assigned to Military Sea Transportation Service, North Pacific (MSTS-NP) during September 1956. MSTS-NP was based in Seattle, Washington. The US Navy’s MSTS was later reorganized as Military Sealift Command (MSC) in 1970.

Lt. Fulfer was later assigned to Camp Pendleton in 1958.

Lt. Fulfer was promoted to Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) on June 1, 1959.

LCDR Fulfer was promoted to Commander (CDR) on December 1, 1963. He was still listed in US Select Military Registers in 1970 as a Commander in the Chaplain Corp. It is unknown when he retired from service.

[etienne]

Amazing ... thanks for telling us this story !

 

E

[cperkins510]

 

I have acquired some items regarding TSgt George W. Fulfer, who was a top turret gunner/engineer on the B-24 Fertile Myrtle on the famous Ploesti bombing mission on August 1, 1943. My Grandfather also flew on this mission on a different B-24, Black Jack. I've been doing some research on TSgt Fulfer, and over time have come up with this narrative of his service with the USAAF and later with the US Navy. Enjoy.[/quote

 

Wow, your grandfather was on the raid?! I'd love to seem some pictures of his uniform or other items, if any are accessible to you.