Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Warren H. Berg Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 8th Air Force, 96th Bomb Group, 413th Squadron
- Location of Service: Fort Snelling, Minnesota; St. Paul, Minnesota; Santa Ana, California; Sacramento, California; Scottsdale, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; Rapid City, South Dakota; Kearney, Nebraska; England
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/9218
For Army Air Corps Captain Warren Berg, flying on D-Day served as a precursor to greater challenges yet to come. June 6th, 1944 was his twenty-first mission, leading the last wave of planes over Normandy before ground troops landed. Sixteen bombing runs later, on the ominous date of January 13th, 1945, he was shot down over Germany. Interned in Stalag XIII-D from early February to April, he was forced to march nearly a hundred miles toward Munich before his eventual liberation by Allied troops on April 29th, 1945. Returning home, he spent nearly forty years training pilots for TWA Airlines.
Interview / Recording
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Interview / Recording
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PlayResponsibilities as a navigator; tension and stress of flying; moment when he crossed the English Channel and was flying toward the enemy 00:00:00.0 - 00:00:51.4
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PlayFlying on D-Day; leading the seventh wave of planes; dropping over Juno Beach; bombs were accurately placed 00:03:00.0 - 00:05:32.8
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PlayFeeling a bit blasé before D-Day, after flying so many missions prior; then getting excited for the invasion 00:05:43.3 - 00:09:13.0
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PlayTaking lots of flak on missions, but no one was ever hurt; flying 30 missions; deciding to sign up for a second tour out of loyalty to his crew. 00:16:44.0 - 00:20:48.0
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PlayTaking lots of flak on missions, but no one was ever hurt; flying 30 missions; deciding to sign up for a second tour out of loyalty to his crew. 00:00:00.0 - 00:02:46.0
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PlayFlying a mission over Mainz, Germany; hit right as they approached the target; two crew members killed; bailing out 00:02:47.2 - 00:08:30.4
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PlayBailing out at about 20,000 feet; drifting to the ground; landing in a small village outside of Mainz; being picked up by local policemen. 00:08:31.9 - 00:11:53.0
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PlayTaken to a guardhouse; encountering another American flyer; reuniting with his copilot 00:11:54.5 - 00:14:07.6
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PlayTaken to interrogation center; put in solitary confinement; being visited by his pilot; given supplies; transferred to the prison camp; marched toward Munich 00:14:24.8 - 00:17:28.2
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PlayConditions while on 100-mile march toward Munich; sticking with his copilot; claiming he was sick; staying in barns and tents; poor food and sanitation. 00:17:29.6 - 00:20:07.1
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PlayLiberation; chaotic conditions; hitchhiking out of prison camp and toward Paris; VE-Day; transfer to Camp Lucky Strike; arriving in New York 00:20:39.0 - 00:21:03.0
Interview / Recording
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Interview / Recording
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About this Item
Title
- Warren H. Berg Collection
Names
- Berg, Warren H.
- Swanson, Gary W.
- Babcock, Robert O.
- Americans Remembered, Inc.
Home State
- Missouri
Headings
- - Berg, Warren H.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.
- - Prisoner of War -- United States
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 8th Air Force, 96th Bomb Group, 413th Squadron
- Location of Service: Fort Snelling, Minnesota; St. Paul, Minnesota; Santa Ana, California; Sacramento, California; Scottsdale, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; Rapid City, South Dakota; Kearney, Nebraska; England
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Dates of Service: 1942-1945
- Prisoner of War: Yes
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of video recording (collected 2012-04-12)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2003-06-26; 1999-12-31)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/9218
Cite as
- Warren H. Berg Collection (AFC/2001/001/9218), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- England
- Fort Snelling, Minnesota
- Kearney, Nebraska
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Rapid City, South Dakota
- Sacramento, California
- Santa Ana, California
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- St. Paul, Minnesota