B-24H (41-28711) "LITTLE SHEPPARD" was originally assigned to the 458th Bomb Group, 755th Bomb Squadron and was already named when it was reassigned to the 448th Bomb Group, 712th Bomb Squadron in January 1944.

"LITTLE SHEPPARD" was assigned to Crew 11 in Feb 1944, after their first aircraft "BOOMERANG" (42-52132) crashed near Tibenham Airfield, England on 10 Feb 1944. Crew 11, along with other crews, flew "LITTLE SHEPPARD" until early Jun 1944 when most of Crew 11 completed their required 30 missions.

On 21 Apr 1944, Crew 1 was flying "LITTLE SHEPPARD" on a mission to Brux, Czechoslovakia when it stalled and went into a spin over the English Channel caused by an ice buildup .The order was given to bail out but only the Navigator 2nd Lt. Seymour Ausfresser bailed out. The pilot was able to regain control before it crashed and returned to base with all the other crew members. Seymour Ausfresser was never found. He was later listed as killed in action (KIA). His name is on the Tablets of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridge, England.

On 21 Jul 1944, a Replacement Crew was flying "LITTLE SHEPPARD" on a mission to Allach, Germany near Munich when it failed to return (FTR). Damaged by flak and enemy fighters, the aircraft landed in Dubendorf, Switzerland. All crew members survived and were interned. MACR's 4343 - 7251.