Memorial

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This A/C went down at 1228 hours at approximately 53 10 N-07 00 E. It was struck from the rear by another B-17, which completely severed the tail assembly. The A/C turned over twice, then went into a spin and was seen to hit the ground. No chutes were observed.

Pittsburgh Tribune - Oct. 17, 2011:
"Krolik was a 21-year-old coal miner when he was drafted. He was killed on his first mission when his B-17F collided with another over Bremen, Germany. The mission to bomb the port city of Bremen included 390 B-17s, 101 B-24s, and 14 B-17PFFs. Ten men died, 35 were wounded, and 215 went missing.
"Military records show the collision severed the tail assembly of Krolik's plane, nicknamed "Second Chance." No one from the 10-man crew survived. The second plane, a B-17 nicknamed "Fancy Nancy," was able to return to base. The tail gunner was the lone casualty.
"Krolik and his brother, Samuel, were drafted about the same time, said their brother, Andrew Krolik, 84, of Belle Vernon. Samuel Krolik, who died Aug. 2 at age 94, was a staff sergeant with the 301st Bombardment Group in Italy."