Memorial

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2nd Lt Arthur E. Barks was awarded posthumously the Distinguished Service Cross (The only member of his group to ever receive this high award). He was painfully and mortally wounded by enemy gun fire and remained at his post long enough to chart a return course to their air base in Tibbenham, Norfolk England. The plane was losing altitude rapidly, the crew members had to lighten the load of their crippled plane and it was necessary to jettison his body into the North Sea laying to rest the remains of an American of exemplary courage and outstanding example of military training and a martyr to the members of his crew. Had the load not been lightened that last little bit, the entire crew might have been buried in the North Sea with the navigator. The crew felt certain that he would have wanted them to take action the way they did. It was felt that in life and in death he had saved their lives.