Witcher Terrell Berger (1919 - 1944)

Born 14 Dec 1919 in Bethlehem, Northampton, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Died 6 Jun 1944 at age 24 in Gillingham, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Judy Dimmick [send private message]

Biography

Air Medal

1st Lt Witcher Berger was Killed in Action at Gillingham, Kent, England on D-Day during World War II.

1st Lt Witcher Berger served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 1941
Unit(s): 587th Bomb Squadron
Service ended: June 6, 1944

1st Lt. Berger was in the 394th Bomb Group: 587th Bomb Squadron, AAF Years in service: approximately 4

Tragedy occurred early in Witcher Berger's life, as his mother died when he was an infant and his father was struck down by a truck in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he owned a shoe company. He died from his injuries February 8, 1939. Even so, Witcher grew up with the tender care of his multi-generational Berger family--aunts, uncles and cousins who all adored him in addition to his siblings.

A military report explained pilots pulled a tour of 25 missions and were then sent home. However, when Witcher's first tour ended, he volunteered for an additional 25 missions and completed that tour in late May 1944. Before going home, Witcher decided to take a two-week vacation in Scotland. When he got back to London, he learned 'something big' was about to happen. The article I researched from the last source below doesn't say how he happened to fly after his 50 missions and that vacation, but he was killed early on D-Day when another B26 came down out of the clouds on top of Witcher over Gillingham, Kent, England. He was forced to crash land his B26 in a populated area. Four civilians were killed, in addition to his entire crew. Lt. Witcher Berger was awarded the Air Medal for meritorious service with his medium bomber group. He was originally buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridgeshire England, but in 1949 his remains were moved to the Berger Cemetery, Greenfield, Nelson, Virginia.

I am including this statement in the Gillingham article: "Photo's and information courtesy of the Berger families" as I'm thankful for the Memorial written there by Roanna Erin Camden Cann (I think his niece) which allows us to more fully appreciate their beloved family member's sacrifices on our behalf.

Sources

• www.familysearch.org/tree/find/name?search=1&gender=male&death=%7C1944-1944%7C0&self=Witcher%7CBerger%7C0%7C0

• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFJ7-FZX : 29 July 2019), Witcher T Berger, Point Borinquen Army Air Base, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; citing enumeration district (ED) 22-32, sheet 5A, line 13, family , Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4611.

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21258107
• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVVP-6Q2D : 27 July 2019), Witcher Terrell Berger, 1944; Burial, Greenfield, Pittsylvania, Virginia, United States of America, Berger Cemetery; citing record ID 21258107, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

• Headstone applications

• [United States Headstone Applications for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1949; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WL-S9DY-N?cc=1916249&wc=MDBK-SP8%3A205942901%2C206306601 Berger headstone applcations]
• http://gillinghambattleb26crash.weebly.com/1-lt-witcher-t-berger.html

• http://www.b26.com/guestbook/2010.htm