Bruce Ffoulkes, Jr.
First Lieutenant Bruce Ffoulkes, Jr., was a Marine fighter pilot with VMF-214 – the “Black Sheep Squadron.”
He was reported missing in action over Rabaul on 23 December 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-11443
Current Status
Remains not recovered.
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
September 3, 1918
at San Francisco, CA
Parents
Bruce Ffoulkes, Sr. (d. 1921)
Irene Genevieve (Traynor) Ffoulkes
later Mrs. Irene Wood
Education
Burlingame High School
Stanford University
Occupation & Employer
College student
Service Life
Entered Service
August 18, 1942 (commission)
Home Of Record
301 Poett Road
San Mateo, CA
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Irene Wood
Military Specialty
Pilot
Primary Unit
VMF-214
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands (three tours)
Individual Decorations
Air Medal
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
Ffoulkes served his first two tours with VMF-213 (the Hell Hawks)
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
First Lieutenant Ffoulkes was an original member of VMF-214, joining the squadron in 1942 shortly after earning his commission. He spent almost a year on detached duty with VMF-211 and VMF-213, and experienced combat with the latter squadron before rejoining the “Black Sheep” late in 1943. During his time stationed in Palmyra Island, Ffoulkes narrowly escaped death in a mid-air collision that claimed the life of PFC George A. Burlingame, Jr. He was a lively and well-liked pilot:
Ffoulkes came from San Mateo, California, but his heart was in Portland where Harriet, the girl he was engaged to, lived. After three and a half years at Stanford (gymnastics and golf) he had joined the Marines in August 1941. 'It's rough ass' was Bruce's favorite expression, whether he was discussing flying or any of his other multifarious activites. A photo addict, he spent a lot of his flying time taking pictures of everything in view, including volcanoes and Nip AA positions.
On 23 December 1943, the “Black Sheep” were assigned a dual mission: escorting B-24s on a bombing strike against Rabaul, with a fighter sweep to follow and screen the withdrawal of the bombers. “Pappy” Boyington himself led the fighter sweep group, which included Lieutenant Ffoulkes. The fighters arrived slightly off schedule – but the timing turned out to be perfect, as the Japanese planes were disorganized, caught at lower altitudes, and already tired from battling the strike force.
Boyington’s team knocked down eleven fighters, and lost one in return.
Junior Heier, who was leading the second section, hit pay dirt. Like the others, he and Bruce Ffoulkes started the fight at eighteen thousand feet. After spotting fifteen Zekes crossing St. George's Channel a thousand feet above, Heier climbed two thousand feet, located a Zeke to his left, and swung around to commence a deflection shot from three o'clock.... The crippled fighter eased down until it hit the water in a flat glide, then bounced and skittered across the surface. It finally came to rest on the surface and remained afloat as Heier passed overhead. Bruce Ffoulkes, still on his wing as he recharged his guns and began climbing toward a cloud, called "Where are you going?"
Heier radioed back: "Climbing out from under; we're under the fight. We have to climb out, then come back on top."
"Well, it's behind us," Ffoulkes responded. "I'm going back."
"Don't climb up under it, you'll get your ass shot off," warned Heier, but Ffoulkes insisted.
"Good luck," Heier called. He never saw his wingman again.
Lieutenant Heier heard a last transmission from Ffoulkes, asking for his position. Haier, busily shooting down a “Tony,” told his wingman to head for home.
Burial Information or Disposition
Bruce Ffoulkes never made it back to Torokina. He was reported as missing in action following the mission; nothing more was ever learned of his fate, or the whereabouts of his Corsair (F4U-1 17443). On 11 January 1946, he was declared dead.
Ffoulkes was promoted to the rank of Captain while in a missing status.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Irene Wood.
Location Of Loss
Ffoulkes was last seen in pursuit of a Zero over St. George’s Channel.
