42-3548 Little Willie

media-18112.jpeg UPL 18112 F/O Bernard M. Dopko
Pilot
388th BG - 563rd BS
B-17F-75-DL #42-3548 "Little Willie"

388bg.info

Object Number - UPL 18112 - F/O Bernard M. Dopko Pilot 388th BG - 563rd BS B-17F-75-DL #42-3548 "Little Willie"

Delivered Denver 28/7/43; Scott 9/8/43; Assigned 563BS/385BG [ -X] Gt Ashfield 25/8/43; Missing in Action Brunswick 23/3/44 with Dick Davis, Navigator: Leroy Coy (2 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: John Cooper, Bombardier: Ed Barwikowski, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: George Miller, Radio Operator: Don Enslow, Ball turret gunner: Bob Cheatham, Waist gunner: Glenn Fredenburg, Waist gunner: Bill Patton, Tail gunner: Bill Good (8 Prisoner of War); flak hit in Ruhr Valley, crashed Hullern, five miles E of Haltern, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 3593.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.

388th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30207) nicknamed "Big Red.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bailey Crew.'

Richard Harding Bailey

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-793713
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30207) nicknamed "Big Red.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bailey Crew.'

Laurence Marshall Bairstow

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-795297
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30207) nicknamed "Big Red.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bailey Crew.'

George Henry Bartuska

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-733513
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Edward H Barwikowski

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Robert H Cheatham

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 23 March 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date
Contributorphil marchese
Changes
Sources

388th BG SITE lists it as theirs.

The later G-DL in which FO B.Dopko and crew were shot down and became prisoners is ot this a/c.

This aircraft is an earlier production as shown in the starboard view.

Date
Contributorphil marchese
Changes
Sources

ATTACHED IMAGE

FORTLOG
388TH BG ASSC WEBSITE

Date
Contributorphil marchese
Changes
Sources

388th Bg assoc
Joblonski, Flying Fortress

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3593 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-3548: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 18112 - F/O Bernard M. Dopko Pilot 388th BG - 563rd BS B...