Kile D. Berg

Preferred Name: Kile
Date of Birth: March 10, 1939
Highest Military Grade Held: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Redlands, CA
Biography

“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)

Pilot Information

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

POW

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.”

(source: Https://www.pownetwork.org/bios/b/b083.htm,
Https://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1023)