Air Medal |
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.
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Witcher is 23 degrees from Emeril Lagasse, 23 degrees from Nigella Lawson, 23 degrees from Maggie Beer, 47 degrees from Mary Hunnings, 28 degrees from Joop Braakhekke, 33 degrees from Michael Chow, 20 degrees from Ree Drummond, 26 degrees from Paul Hollywood, 25 degrees from Matty Matheson, 26 degrees from Martha Stewart, 31 degrees from Danny Trejo and 26 degrees from Molly Yeh on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
B > Berger > Witcher Terrell Berger
Categories: Berger Cemetery, Greenfield, Virginia | B-26 Pilots | Killed in Action, United States of America, World War II | 394th Bombardment Group (Medium), United States Army Air Forces, World War II