Richard Gordon Berger

Military

Richard Berger was Left Waist Gunner on B-24D #42-51112 on the 31 March 1945 mission to Brunswick, Germany. Hit by a German Me262 jet fighter, the Liberator had one engine out, its Navigator was badly wounded and Pilot Bussell tried to crash-land the ship, with all the crew on board, in a field between Tündern and Hamelin, 45km SW of Hannover, Germany. Navigator Murray D. Robinson and Top Turret Gunner Saul Katz were killed in the crash. The 8 other crew members were made Prisoners of War (POWs) including Dick Berger. Missing Air Crew Report – MACR 13735.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

People

Murray D Robinson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12177127 at enlistment, then O-2063476
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Robert Milton Self

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 732nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34803615
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Nose Gunner

Thomas David Sherman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18232447
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Stephen Louis Silvestro

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33746719
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

2 April 1925 St Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

31 March 1945 After the crash-landing of B-24D #42-51112 between Tündern and Hamelin, 45km SW of Hannover, Germany. NARA WWII POW records : ”Interned in Germany. Returned to Military Control 18 August 1945.”

Other

Discharged

25 October 1945

Died

13 July 1997

Born

St Paul, Minnesota

Buried

Richard Berger rests at the Oakmont Memorial Park, Lafayette, California

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Capitalized "Waist Gunner" in the "Role/job" field.

 

 

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 13735
WWII Draft card
WWII POW records
Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death file

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / The Liberator Men of Old Buc