Kile D. Berg
“Life is a form of magic! you never know what will happen next. For me, even when it’s bad, it’s been very good.”
Kile Berg enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on April 11, 1958, and entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the Air Force on December 10, 1958. He earned his commission and pilot wings at Greenville AFB, Mississippi, on March 18, 1960.
After completing Gunnery School and F-100 Super Sabre Combat Crew Training, Lt Berg served as an F-100 and F-105 Thunderchief pilot with the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem AB, West Germany, from March 1961 to March 1965, followed by service as an F-105 pilot with the 563rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at McConnell AFB, Kansas, from March to April 1965. Capt Berg then deployed to Southeast Asia with his unit, and was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on July 27, 1965.
After spending 2,758 days in captivity, Maj Berg was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at March AFB, California, and then received an Air Force Institute of Technology assignment to the University of Washington, where he received his master’s degree in Accounting in March 1976. Col Berg’s final assignment was as a C-141 Starlifter pilot and Assistant Operations Officer for the 4th Military Airlift Squadron of the 62nd Military Airlift Wing at McChord AFB, Washington, from March 1976 until he retired from the Air Force on June 1, 1978.
(source: Veteran Tributes Https://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1023)
Units Assigned
- 12/1960 USAF Aviation Cadet Program
- 3/1960-3/1961 Gunnery School/Combat Crew Training, Greenville AFB, MS (F-100)
- 3/1961-3/1965 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem AB, West Germany (F-100, F-105)
- 3/1965-4/1965 563rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, McConnell AFB, KS (F105)
- 4/1965 – Capture 7/27/1965 SEA
- 2/12/1973 Released in Operation Homecoming after 2,758 days in captivity
- Briefly hospitalized to recover at March AFB, CA
- 1973-1976 Air Force Institute of Technology, University of Washington
- 3/1976-6/1978 4th Military Airlift Squadron/ 62nd Military Airlift Wing, McChord AFB, WA (C-141 Starlifter)
- 6/1978 Retired from USAF
Awards & Decorations
Silver Star (2)
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star with Valor device and Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
Prisoner of War Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Vietnam Service Medal 1 with 3 Silver and 2 Bronze Stars
Vietnam Service Medal 2 with 1 Bronze Star
Air Force Longevity Award with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Small Arms Marksmanship Award
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Flight Info
F-100
F-105
C-141
Military & Civilian Education
Military Education
- USAF Aviation Cadet Program
Civilian Education
- 1976 MA/Accounting, University of Washington
KILE D. BERG Major – United States Air Force
Shot Down: July 27, 1965
Released: February 12, 1973
23rd Tactical Fighter Wing
Aircraft: F-105D
“On 6 April 1965, I went temporary active duty to Takhli Air Base, Thailand. As I recall, I flew about twenty sorties in Laos and twenty-seven in Vietnam. At 1400 hours on 27 July 1965, I was shot down.”
On that date, as a Flight Leader, Captain Berg participated in a strike against a heavily defended Surface-to-Air Missile site near Hanoi, Vietnam. This was the first attack by fighters against an operational SAM site in military history and the hazards involved cannot be overemphasized. Penetrating hostile defenses and heavy anti-aircraft fire on a low-level, high-speed run, Captain Berg courageously pressed the attack to score a direct hit on his assigned target.
“The past has died, let it die. The present lives, enjoy it. The future is unknown, don’t anticipate it.”