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X. L. Fulton

PFC X. L. Fulton was a Marine Corps aviator with VMSB-141 during the Guadalcanal campaign.
He was lost in a storm over the Solomon Islands on 13 November 1942.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 322526

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Current Status

Remains Not Recovered

Pursuit Category

The DPAA has not publicized this information.

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

November 20, 1925
at Amarillo, TX
as Austin G. Rains, Jr.

Parents

Austin G. Rains
Cleo Hall (Rains) Fulton (d. 1945)
stepfather, Labon Burbank Fulton

Education

White Deer High School (ex-1943)

Occupation & Employer

High school student

Service Life

Entered Service

September 16, 1941
at Oklahoma City, OK

Home Of Record

821 South Carolina Street
Amarillo, TX

Next Of Kin

Parents, Labon & Cleo Fulton

Military Specialty

Aviation radioman / gunner

Primary Unit

VMSB-141

Campaigns Served

Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

Sixteen-year-old X. L. Fulton enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1941. After boot camp and stateside training as a in aviation, he was posted to overseas duty with VMSB-141, joining the squadron at Guadalcanal in early October 1942. As part of the “Cactus Air Force,” Fulton took part in numerous patrols and strikes on ground and sea targets in the Solomon Islands.

On 13 November 1942, American Army, Navy, and Marine pilots based on Guadalcanal attempted to finish off the Japanese battleship Hiei, crippled in a naval battle near Savo Island. The big ship attempted to steam north to safety while her crew worked desperately to repair her crippled steering mechanism; although hit numerous times, she stubbornly remained afloat. A final flight of Marine dive bombers departed Henderson Field late in the afternoon and flew through a rapidly developing storm to attack the Hiei‘s escorting ships. Among the fliers were Second Lieutenant Amedeo Sandretto and PFC Fulton in SBD-3 06572.

The storm grew so strong that the flight was scattered and only the leader, Major Joseph Sailer, Jr., was able to drop his bomb on the target. In the relatively short distance between Henderson Field and the Hiei, two bombers disappeared along with their crews. Sandretto and Fulton were never heard from again; both were declared dead on 19 February 1945.

Burial Information or Disposition

None; remains not recovered. Fulton was officially declared dead on 19 February 1945.

The wreck of Hiei was discovered by the R/V Petrel in 2019.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of parents, Labon and Cleo Fulton.
The Fultons relocated to McAlester, Oklahoma, after X. L. entered the service.

Location Of Loss

SBD-3 #06572 was last seen entering bad weather near Savo Island.

Related Profiles

VMSB-141 personnel non-recovered from the Guadalcanal area.
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