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name
BERG, George Henry - Date of
birth
22 October 1923 -
Age
20 -
Place of birth
Dunellen, Middlesex County, New Jersey -
Hometown
Dunellen, Middlesex County, New Jersey -
Ethnicity
White
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32766613 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
350th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
11 September 1944 - Place of
death
Machern, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 10 | 43 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Hans H. Berg (father)
Elisa M. (Bentz) Berg (mother)
John L. Berg (brother)
Arthur W. Berg (brother)
Albert T. Berg (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38043 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Ruhland, Germany
Mission: Bombing of an oil refinery
MACR: 8814
More information
S/Sgt George H. Berg graduated from Dunellen High School in 1940 and attended Middlesex County Boys Vocational School.He enlisted in New Jersey on 23 February 1943 and was sent overseas in July 1944.
Statement of a surviving crew member:
From the moment of the first fighter attack, the pilot, Lt Howard R. Schulte, was unconscious, presumably from lack of oxygen. After continuing flying, the co-pilot, who was in command of the ship, decided that further attempts to put out the fire and return of our base would be of no avail and the order to bail out was given. The pilot had returned to consciousness, stating he was all right and unwounded to the co-pilot's inquiry. He immediately confirmed the co-pilots decision to abandon ship. I bailed out later. The Bombardier, Lt. Kenneth R. Summers later told me that he saw the pilot, Lt Schulte, and believed him to be the last person aboard the aircraft. When last seen he was flying the aircraft at 7500 feet altitude going down fast. One wing was a mass of flames due to flak damage. He saw no more chutes come from the plane. Lt Summers believes that Lt Schulte did not bail out or if he did his chute did not open. He may have decided to crash land the aircraft. Six crew members were taken prisoner, three were killed.
He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Grand-Failly, France.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / WWII Draft Cards Young Men / U.S. WWII Hospital Admission Card Files, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.findagrave.com – MAJ Jimmy Cotton / Vindicator - The Central New Jersey Home News - 26 October 1944
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – LuxAmCem, www.newspapers.com - The Central New Jersey Home News, www.ancestry.com - Dunellen High School Yearbook 1940