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Personal info

Full 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

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