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name
BARGER, Dean Lawrence - Date of
birth
14 November 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Missoula, Missoula County, Montana -
Hometown
Missoula, Missoula County, Montana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-675021 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
550th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
11 December 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, 2 miles off Langeoog Island, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 14 | 36 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Leonard I. Barger (father)
Florence Barger (mother)
Thelma R. Barger (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30168 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Slo Jo
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 1666
More information
2nd Lt Dean L. Barger was a chauffeur.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army in Missoula, Montana, on 14 December 1941. He received primary training at Chanute Field, Illinois, and was commissioned a pilot at Randolph field, Texas, on 20 March 1943.
According to witness statements of surviving crew members, the bombs exploded on board of the plane.
His body washed ashore on the north side of Langeoog Island on 12 June 1944. At the time he was found, he had his identification tags on his body. Nevertheless, he was buried by the Germans on 13 June 1944 at the cemetery of Langeoog in a grave marked as "Unknown American Flyer". On 1 May 1946, when his body was disinterred, no ID tags were found.
At Ardennes, he was identified by markings on his parachute seat and first buried there on 16 May 1946. He was again disinterred on 4 November 1948 and his remains were prepared and placed in a casket on 26 November 1948. He was given his final resting place on 20 March 1949.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, William H. Shay, Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.newspapers.com
Photo source: Astrid van Erp, www.newspapers.com - The Missoulian, www.americanairmuseum.com