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name
BARNHILL, Wilbur R - Date of
birth
31 July 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Louisiana -
Hometown
Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-670073 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
427th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
26 November 1943 - Place of
death
Nort Sea, 10 km north of Texel, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
William E. Barnhill (father)
Mary L. (Ramsey) Barnhill (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-29955 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Mr Five by Five
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 1324
More information
Wilbur R. Barnhill attended college.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States on 28 March 1942. He flew 18 missions.
The airplane was last seen 10 kilometres west of Texel Island over the North Sea when it dropped out of formation with its wheels down. It appeared to be under control when last seen.
All ten crew members were killed. Only the body of the bombarbier, 1st Lt John W. Hull, washed ashore on Terschelling Island, The Netherlands on 13 February 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.303rdbg.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.footnote.com, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.fold3.com, Daniel Bon