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

Colonel Larry Thomas of the 453rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Larry Thomas 453BG.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18076336 at enlistment, then O-758532
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39277648
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13063119 at enlistment, then O-2059523
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38387437
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13146259
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Nose Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron

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