Jack W. Berry
USAAF, 5th Air Force, 35th Fighter Group, 39th Fighter Squadron Airacobra Pilot

Background
Berry resided in Oregon before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as a pursuit pilot and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant with serial number O-22515 and was promoted to the rank of Major.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 35th Fighter Group, 39th Fighter Squadron as a P-39 Airacobra pilot flying from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby.

Mission History
On August 4, 1942 took off piloting P-39F Airacobra 41-7165 on a mission but crashed off Fishermans Island (Daugo). When this aircraft failed to return, Berry was reported as Missing In Acton (MIA).

Memorials
Berry was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. Also, the Port Moresby airfield 12-Mile Drome (Bomana) was renamed "Berry Drome" in his honor.

References
History of 39th Pursuit Squadron, page 54
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jack W. Berry
FindAGrave - Maj Jack W Berry (tablets of the missing)
Fold3 - Jack W Berry

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