John Howard Kolberg was born on May 4, 1924, in Oakes, North Dakota. He was the son of Peter Martin Kolberg and Valeria E Kennedy Kolberg.

John served in the 863rd Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot on the B-17G #43-38264 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on November 5, 1944, when his aircraft was shot down by flak. The aircraft caught fire, went out of control, and exploded in the air a few miles east of Ludwigshafen, Germany.

1Lt Kolberg is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France.

B-17G #43-38264 crew:
Kolberg, John H – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
Johnson, Bruce P – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
Rosenberg, Martin J – 2/Lt – Navigator – KIA
Churm, Vincent B – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
Loughran, Joseph J – T/Sgt – Engineer – POW
Klindworth, Robert D – T/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
Kurio, Robert L – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – POW
Vayo, William M – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – POW
Fisher, Arthur E – S/Sgt – Tail Gunner – POW

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov