
Production-block:
B-17G-1-VE: 42-39758 to 42-39857
Manufacturer:
Lockheed/Vega
- Bomb Group:
- 96th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 337th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: AW-S
MACR: 2425
History of
B-17 42-39814
Delivered Long Beach 8/9/43; Assigned 337BS/96BG [AW-S] Snetterton 29/9/43; Missing in Action Brunswick 21/2/44 with Alver Smith, Bombardier: Ernie Martin, Ball turret gunner: Frank Morales, Waist gunner: Dan Kricks,Tail gunner: Bob Means (5 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Jim Lynn, Navigator: Bernie Moynahan, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Loyal Messler, Radio Operator: Harry Angus, Waist gunner: Bill Ford (5 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Gross-Munzel, near Kolenfeld, five miles S of Wunstorf, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 2425.
Last updated: 2. March 2019
23. October 2018 access_time 20:15
Rest in peace, second cousin Alver Roy Smith, 1916-1944, from Columbia County, Arkansas, USA.
10. September 2021 access_time 4:01
This plane was the aircraft my father was part of the crew in WW2. His name was Daniel Kricke, not Kricks. He was a POW. The aircraft was named “Big Time Operator.” My father did the nose art on the nose. Also the Bombardier was his best friend and was killed. His name was Ernest Paul Martin. He went by Paul Martin, but was nicknamed “Marty.”
30. September 2023 access_time 0:16
My granddad’s brother was the pilot. We have his Purple Heart. I never new the name of the plane. Thank you for sharing that.