Roland Duane Bergman was born on August 17, 1920, in Andover, Harrison County, Missouri. He was the son of John Henry Bergman Sr. and Clara Theresa Johnson Bergman. He attended a rural school in Andover and later graduated from Ridgeway High School in 1937. He entered the U.S. Army on July 9, 1942, completed his basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas, and began his service in the Medical Department, with assignments at O’Reilly General Hospital in Missouri and Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Colorado. Following his transfer to the Army Air Corps, he trained at multiple air bases across the United States before departing for overseas duty in October 1944 aboard a B-17 bomber. He served in the 347th Bomber Squadron, 99th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Left Waist Gunner of B-17G #42-32097 nicknamed "Slipstream" during World War II.

On December 18, 1944, Slipstream took part in a major bombing mission against the Odertal refinery as part of the 99th Bombardment Group’s strategic air campaign. A veteran aircraft with about 90 completed missions, Slipstream flew in the last squadron of the formation. After bombs were released, the aircraft fell slightly behind and was attacked by German FW-190 fighters, sustaining severe damage that knocked out its controls and set parts of the bomber ablaze. As the crew attempted to abandon the aircraft, additional attacks and centrifugal forces inside the spinning bomber killed several airmen before they could escape. The aircraft ultimately exploded and crashed near Bystrovany, along the Bystřice River in the present-day Czech Republic, scattering wreckage across nearby fields and villages. Seven crew members were killed, while three survived by parachuting and were captured by German forces.

Sgt Bergman was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Lamoni Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Decatur County, Iowa, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, http://www.leteckabadatelna.cz/