​​Berger was born in Montreal to Jewish parents and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) on 24 July 1941. Described as well-suited to be a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, he trained for this role and was deployed overseas in 1943. After serving for seven months with 269 Squadron RAF in Iceland, he was reassigned to Britain in preparation for D-Day.

​On the night of 5 June 1944, Berger was aboard Dakota III KG429, part of RAF Transport Command, tasked with deploying nineteen paratroopers of the 8th Parachute Battalion into Normandy as part of Operation Tonga. The aircraft took off from Blakehill Farm airfield, flown by Warrant Officer Munro McCannell, with Second Pilot Flight Sergeant Alexander Porter and Navigator Flight Sergeant Albert Downing.

​During the mission, the lead aircraft in their formation had to abruptly change course to avoid a collision with another off-track formation. KG429 lost contact in the confusion and veered off course. While over Colombelles near Caen, it was struck by German anti-aircraft fire and crashed near the Saint-Martin church. Except for one surviving paratrooper, all aboard perished. Berger was 22 years old.

​The charred remains of the crew and paratroopers were initially buried in a communal grave near the crash site. Later, they were reinterred at Ranville War Cemetery in collective graves.

​Berger had graduated from Montréal High School and was active in the Young Men’s Hebrew Association. Despite early RCAF restrictions on Jewish recruits, many, like Berger, served bravely. Jewish Canadians suffered disproportionately high losses in the air force—nearly 60% of their wartime casualties. Berger was survived by two brothers, both serving in the Canadian Army.​