Robert C. Berg was born on February 28, 1914, in Prentice, Wisconsin. He was the son of Frank Viktor Berg and Anna Lisa Jofa Berg. He was married to Arlene E. Zorn Berg Griesemer. He was a construction superintendent for Johnson, Drake, and Piper, constructing radar tracking stations and airstrips overseas. He served in the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, as a Technical Sergeant and Top Turret Gunner of B-17 (42-102485) nicknamed 'Bare Essentials' during World War II.

On May 28, 1944, while on a mission to bomb Dessau, Germany, the aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire (flak), causing a fire on board. Despite the crew’s efforts to control the situation, they were forced to crash-land near Groenekan in the Netherlands. Several crew members lost their lives, while the survivors were captured and taken as prisoners of war. During this period, the group carried out numerous strategic bombing missions across Europe.

TSgt Berg was among those captured and taken as a prisoner of war. He was held at Stalag Luft 4 in Pomerania, Prussia. After his military service, he worked again as a construction overseas and retired in 1970. He died on April 4, 1993, and is now buried in the Hillside Cemetery, Ogema, Price County, Wisconsin, USA.

Source of information: b17flyingfortress.de, www.findagrave.com, aad.archives.gov