Allen Hilding Osterberg was born on October 25, 1916, in Rock, Delta County, Michigan. He was the son of Eric Wilhelm Osterberg and Hannah Erickson Osterberg. He worked as a self-employed radio technician before enlisting in the service on March 15, 1942. He served in the 534th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier of the B-17 #42-97084 nicknamed ''Spare Charlie'' during World War II.

On June 22, 1944, the B-17 Flying Fortress "Spare Charlie" was shot down while on a bombing mission between Tingry (Pas-de-Calais) and Abbeville (Somme), France. The aircraft took off from Station 167 in Ridgewell, Essex, UK, and was hit by German anti-aircraft fire over the target area. The flak strike damaged two engines and set the wing ablaze. At 19:08, just moments before the aircraft broke apart and crashed, the waist gunner was the only crew member able to bail out. The B-17 disintegrated in mid-air and went down near Épagnette, France. The rest of the crew perished in the crash.

2Lt Osterberg was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Gardens of Rest Cemetery, Wells, Delta County, Michigan, USA.

Source of information: francecrashes39-45.net/, www.americanairmuseum.com