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| Lt. Berk was the navigator on the final mission of "Terry and the Pirates" when it crashed near Paris. https://www.flickr.com/photos/dougsheley/3268151475 |
Sidney Berk never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born as Sidney Berkovitz on April 29, 1917 in Florida. His Hebrew speaking parents were both born in Romania and came to America in 1908. His father was a grocery store proprietor and later a retail clothing merchant. Sid had four older sisters and two younger sisters. By 1940 Sid had completed four years of college and was working as a sales clerk.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on October 8, 1941. Perhaps he had relatives in Romania, repressed by the Nazis, that caused him to enlist before America was attacked.
He became a first lieutenant and B-17 navigator in the 367th Bombardment Squadron, 306th Bombardment Group, 8th Army Air Force.
On December 20, 1942, Lt. Berk was the navigator on the B-17 Terry and the Pirates when it was sent on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine. It was shot down by enemy fighter planes and crashed near Paris. Seven crewmen survived the crash and were made POWs, but Lt. Berk and two others were killed.
His remains were returned to be buried at the Old Jewish Center Cemetery in Jacksonville, FL.
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He was my uncle for whom I was named. This is a well research and well written piece. None of his siblings are alive, so its very hard to get good information on him.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know. Don Milne
DeleteJust one minor addition. He did have an older brother, Bert (Isadore) Berk who served as a naval officer during WWII. Uncle Bert was a graduate of the University of Florida Law School.
DeleteSid still has one living sibling--his youngest sister, Juliene who adored him.
DeleteThis is Sabina's son, Sid. I did not know that Juliene was still alive. Is this Juliene or do you know her?
ReplyDeleteGreetings all. I'm currently researching Mission 26 on which the B 17, Terry and the Pirates, was shot down. My father was a gunner. Part of my narrative includes profiles of the crew. Here is what I've learned about Sidney (without all the references). I'd appreciate any comments to be sent to drdejnozka@yahoo.com. Here is what I've found (via ancestry.com, Find-A-Grave and various government records):
ReplyDelete"Sidney’s last name is a truncated version of “Berkovitz” which appears in U.S. census records. Sidney was born to Berman Berkovitz (1884-1973) and Laura (Moskovitz) Berkovitz (1898-1967) on 29 APR 1917.
His father was a merchant who raised a large family. Siblings were named Isadore (aka “Bert”) (b. c1911), Adele (b. c1919), Bernice (1920-2012) and Johene (aka Juliene) (b. c1927). He completed high school and four years of college.
Prior to enlisting in the military, he was employed as a sales clerk at Berk’s Men Shop (a retail clothing shop), possibly working for his Romanian born father at the family business. While living with his parents in Jacksonville, Florida, Sidney enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on 08 OCT 1941 (serial no. 0-789228). Draft records describe him as 67-68 inches tall, weighing 125-128 lbs with dark completion, gray eyes and brown hair. His official residence was Jacksonville.
Sidney may have married on Mildred Whilden on 22 JUN 1941 before the draft records were completed. WWII Jewish Serviceman records show on a Mildred Berk living in Jacksonville, Florida, made an inquiry regarding her husband Lt. Sidney Berk. This inquiry (dated 09 FEB 1943) shows Sidney’s military status as “missing”.
Lt Berk was the navigator when killed in action on 20 December 1942 when the bomber was shot down (B-17F 41-24489 'Terry and the Pirates') over France. His remains were returned and he was buried at the Jewish Center Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida."
I'm continuing the research on all the crew and if you have a photo of Sidney, I'd very much appreciate you sending one. I hope to complete a book regarding this mission and the fate of the crew. The tentative title is: "Mission 26 - The Ill-fated Mission of Terry and the Pirates."
Thanks, M.M. Dejnozka, M.D., Colonel, USAF (Retired)
Hello all. I've completed my research (223 references) and the book on the 20 DEC 1942 mission of 41-24489 "Terry and the Pirates" and it is now available on Amazon.com. The book was written to honor my father and his crew members. It is heavily researched regarding the history of the plane, the fateful mission, the shoot down and its assigned crew. I did not write this for profit. It has a very nominal cost at $9.50. The book is titled: MISSION VI BC 26 - The Downing of "Terry and the Pirates." If you have a relative who was assigned that bomber on that particular mission, it might interest you. Have a wonderful and safe new year. Malcolm M. Dejnozka, USAF, Col (Retired). My e-mail: drdejnozka@yahoo.com
ReplyDelete