| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Douglas |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-15-DL: 42-37804 to 42-37893 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 388th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 563rd Bomb Squadron |
| MACR | 3088 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (09 March 1944) |
| Missions: | 36 |
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History of
B-17 42-37839 / Little Willie
Delivered Tulsa 20/9/43; Gr Island 14/10/43; Assigned 563BS/388BG [ -D] Knettishall 26/10/43; Missing in Action Berlin 9/3/44 with Bernie Dopko, Co-pilot: Gene Krifka, Navigator: Glenn Cederstrom, Bombardier: Bill Kelly, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ed Naber, Radio Operator: Wilson Gabel, Ball turret gunner: Ed Rydell, Waist gunner: Dick Herzberg, Waist gunner: Lloyd Haller,Tail gunner: Sybrand De Vreis (10 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Preetze Forest, near Liebenthal, 12 miles NE of Oranienburg, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 3088. LITTLE WILLIE.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
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B-17 42-37839 / Little Willie Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | F/O | Bernard Michael Dopko | POW | - |
| CP | F/O | Eugene John Krifka | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Glenn Roger Cederstrom | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | William George Kelly | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Edward Charles Naber | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Wilson Robert Gable | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Edward J. Rydell | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Richard Raymond Herzberg | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Lloyd Samuel Haller | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Sybrand Richard de Vries | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 19 January 2019
08. November 2023 access_time 19:55
Looking for any info/photos of the crew that flew Little Willie BEFORE handing over to the Dopko crew. My Uncle John (Jack) Raney was a member of the prior crew.
16. November 2023 access_time 18:40
Not much help, but if you haven’t read the essay by James Warner called “In the Beginning” he recounts how they added some armor plate to Little Willie before its first mission in 1943. It’s included in the book 388th Anthology Vol 1 (under the title “Little Willie’s First Crew”). Also, when the 388th Group website (388bg.com) works, you can search for your uncle’s name. That’s how I found that my uncle flew with Capt. Dopko. Good luck with your search!
16. December 2024 access_time 22:39
I am currently looking to transcribe my great grandfathers journal from WW2 and this site has helped tremendously.
18. December 2024 access_time 11:13
Hello Richard,
can you send me a copy of his journal? I would like to read his experiences.
my email: info@b17flyingfortress.de
Cheers
Jing
02. December 2025 access_time 10:20
see comment on b17 site. Henry
02. December 2025 access_time 10:14
Hello, Richard. Richard Herzberg (we called him Uncle Cook) was my uncle, I am one of Bob’s sons. I grew up in the house in Somers, NY with my family and my Grandmother ( Cook’s mom). She had a news paper article regarding the last flight of the ‘Little Willie’. I remember reading it but I’m not sure where it got to. I would love to see it again.
Please contact me. Henry
PS: My bother Bob still lives in New York State.