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name
BARNUM, Eugene Everett Jr - Date of
birth
13 May 1917 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Gaines, Orleans County, New York -
Hometown
Gaines, Orleans County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-659222 -
Rank
Captain -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
61st Fighter Squadron,
56th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
2 December 1944 - Place of
death
Dorf-Güll, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 12 | 24 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Eugene E. Barnum (father)
Florence C. (Bates) Barnum (mother)
Harvey Barnum (brother)
Janet L. Barnum (sister)
William J. Barnum (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-19739 -
Data
Type: P-47D
Mission: Fighter sweep
MACR: 10801
More information
Capt Eugene E. Barnum, jr graduated from Albion High School and Cornell University.He joined the Regular Army in Rochester, New York on 25 September 1941 and was sent overseas in January 1943.
The mission was a fighter sweep ahead of a bomber formation with destination Cologne and Frankfurt.
Capt Barnum was killed in a mid-air collision with 2nd Lt Wyman A. Baker.
According to the statement of 1st Lt John T. Allen, who flew in the same mission, an ME 109 was sighted at 2 o'clock of their formation. Capt Barnum was positioning himself for a deflection shot at the enemy aircraft from the right, when another plane, believed to be the P-47 of Lt Baker, slipped in and down on Capt Barnum from the right. There was a big explosion and no parachutes were observed.
Both men were initially buried on the cemetery of Dorf-Güll, Germany.
Lt Baker has his final resting place at the Ardennes American Military Cemetery.
Capt Eugene E. Barnum Jr is buried next to his brother 2nd Lt William J. Barnum.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, National WWII Memorial, Footnote, www.newspapers.com - Democrat and Chronicle
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, http://biblioteka.mycity-military.com - Osprey Aviation, www.newspapers.com - Democrat and Chronicle