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name
BARNES, Ira M - Date of
birth
2 April 1919 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Copan, Washington County, Oklahoma -
Hometown
Centralia, Marion County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16041484 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
551st Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 October 1944 - Place of
death
500 m west of Liepe, 24 km north of Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 7 | 11 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Arthur P. Barnes (father)
Josie A. Barnes (mother)
Charles L. Barnes (brother)
Cardell W. Barnes (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-98010 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 9523
More information
T/Sgt Ira M Barnes attended Copan High School.He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army in East St. Louis, Illinois on 31 May 1941.
While at Dale Mabry Airbase, he served as an 'extra' in the movie 'Air Force' in which he appeared several times.
At 1207 hours, at the I.P., enemy fighters attacked in mass formation from the rear and above, coming out of the clouds. The first attack reduced the Group strength to 2 B-17s (which two is undetermined). The fighters then returned and in another mass attack, using the same tactics, shot down the remaining two. Attacks were very aggressive and sudden.
No exact information of the attack is available because no B-17 of the Group concerned returned.
Only one crew member survived and was taken prisoner. Eight men were killed. They were initially buried at the community cemetery of Liepe on 8 October 1944.
T/Sgt Barnes is remembered at Sunnyside Cemetery in Caney, Montgomery County, Kansas.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Card, Morning Examiner - 21 October 1945
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Joe Todd