Kearie Lee Berry Jr
Military
Object Number - UPL 61196 - West Point Graduate Kearie L. Berry Jr
Commander of the 603rd Bombardment Squadron, 398th Bombardment Group from 18 April 1945 to an unknown date.
RTD Damaged by flak and ditched in channel on 7/8/44 in B-17 42-107096 Forced to jump in the English Channel upon return from a bombing attack on France. Of the nine man crew Captain Berry and his tail gunner Manuel C Ray returned to base. Landed about 50 yards from shore of Goodwin Sands and it took him about 2 hours to reach land because the water was so cold. Once on land, two Grumman Avengers made 3 passes at a sunken boat about 300 yards away. His refuge was a practice target area. After about 4 hours an air/sea rescue launch picked him up. MACR 7220
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), EAME (2BS), WWII Victory
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
![Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378743.jpg.webp?itok=HBB0lqjl)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
San Diego, CA | 27 October 1918 | Born San Diego, California |
|
Other Commissioned |
West Point, NY, USA | 19 January 1943 | Commissioned/Graduated - Class of '43' West Point, New York |
|
Died |
Paine Field (PAE), 3220 100th St SW, Everett, WA 98204, USA | 29 July 1962 | Died in a jet aircraft accident. Paine Field, Everett, Washington |
Revisions
BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY OF THE 8TH AIR FORCE 1942-1945, Russell Strong
MACR 7220
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7220 / MACR 7220; Fortresses Over Nuthampstead, pg 36 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
