| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-1-VE: 42-39758 to 42-39857 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 96th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 337th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL: | AW-S |
| MACR: | 2425 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (21 February 1944) |
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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.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
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This page was last updated on 02 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.
12. June 2024 access_time 0:52
It’s so great to read your comment, Kyle!! I’m not related, but my grandfather was a friend of your great uncle’s. Every trip to the Shiloh Cemetery with Pop involved a stop at Alver’s grave. He would always proudly tell me Alver’s story. When Pop passed away in 2011, I made it a priority to “adopt” Alver’s grave so to speak and leave flowers or a flag for him when I can. I would love to hear from you if you have additional information or pictures to share of him. I feel like he is family!
Katie Grimmett Jones
12. June 2024 access_time 16:40
Yesterday my mother gave me a poem framed from my great-grandfather’s nephew, Bernard Moynahan, that he recalled seeing scratched on a wall from his time as a POW (There are hardships that nobody reckons; There are valleys unpeopled and still; There’s a land—oh, it beckons and beckons, And I want to go back—and I will.) and I’ve completely gone down a massive rabbit hole about his service. To think someone posted THIS SAME DAY is AMAZING. I’m so glad I found this page! By chance is there a link to the nose art for this plane? I’d love to see it.
RIP to the five souls lost on this mission, and thank you all for keeping their memories alive.
30. July 2024 access_time 1:16
This is to the relatives of 1sr Lt Alvers Smith the pilot of the “Big Time Operator.” I am curious. My father Daniel Kricke told me the the KIA crew were buried near the crash site of the plane. Was Alvers remains brought back from Germany to Arkansas?
25. September 2025 access_time 23:18
Hello Randy, I have a POW post letter written to your father while we was a POW in Stalag Luft 3 written by L Merz of Chicago. Lots of family names mentioned. If you are interested; email me
26. September 2025 access_time 17:52
per my previous postthat read:”I have a POW post letter written to your father while WE was a POW in Stalag Luft 3 written by L Merz of Chicago…….” Sorry, siri misheard me. It was meant to state” while HE was a POW, not while WE was a POW….”