Matthew Berk

Military

LWG, Manchester crew. 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF. Shot down 8 October 1943 in B-17 #42-29941 'Tarfu'. Mission #36 to the shipyards at Bremen, Germany. MACR 884. The aircraft was on fire and exploded, splitting in half at the ball turret. S/Sgt Berk was wounded and dragged to the rear of the waist section by S/Sgt McCook (tail gunner). They both were trapped in the tail section, rode it to the ground and survived. Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft IV.

Harrisburg, PA

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-734961
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32275984
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner; Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-736900
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19082420
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Aircraft

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

20 May 1920

Other

Prisoner of War

Germany 8 October 1943 Stalag Luft IV

Revisions

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ContributorARowe95
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Sources

ARowe95

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ContributorARowe95
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ARowe95

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ContributorAAM
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Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 884 / MACR 884, www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/Roster.aspx">www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/Roster.aspx> / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database