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Japanese and Allied Air Forces in the Far East Please use this forum to discuss the Air War in the Far East. |
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S/Sgt William C. Barber - 26 March 1944 - Broadway - L-1
In the Dec 1961 Ex-CBI-Roundup magazine it says at bottom of p. 13 that liaison pilot S/Sgt (William C.) Barber was killed in his taxiing L-1 at Broadway airstrip, Burma, when base was attacked by Zeros (http://www.ex-cbi-roundup.com/docume...1_december.pdf). This was on 26 March 1944.
Remarkably this 1st Air Commando L-1 pilot still is on the MIA list (http://www.dpaa.mil/Portals/85/Docum...ir_forces.html) His name is on the Manila Memorial. It may mean that somehow his remains could not be recovered post war? Wondering about full name of injured Sgt. Cowen as well. Thanks for any info. Regards, Leendert |
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Re: S/Sgt William C. Barber - 26 March 1944 - Broadway - L-1
Cowen was Frank Cowen. More details on the attack here on page 12 (see March 25th entry). Not sure why the date is different.
It also may be that remains were recovered but could not be identified as Barber post war. http://www.ex-cbi-roundup.com/docume...0_february.pdf There is also mention of the attack on this link but search for "Cowan". It describes how both men were taken to a doctor on base. That would suggest possibly that Barber's body was pretty much intact (not burned up for example). http://www.cbi-history.com/part_vi_1...mando_gp2.html |
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Re: S/Sgt William C. Barber - 26 March 1944 - Broadway - L-1
interesting query as to why S/Sgt William C. Barber is still listed as not recovered.
NARA KIA Cert https://www.wwiimemorial.com/Registr...oreeID=1113108 Oddly there are two findagrave listing for this veteran. This one generated by CWGC/ABMC has his KIA date as 26 Jul 1944 (likely incorrect but why?) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...lliam-c-barber This one offers a more accurate KIA date and veteran bio but offers little further detail and adds "body not recoverable" (but why, given the account Rolland discovered?) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...carroll-barber S/Sgt William Carroll Barber was killed at the Advanced Landing Field (forward Airfield) code name "Broadway", early images of this "temporary" Air Field here http://ww2today.com/10-may-1944-buil...r-the-chindits This airfield was located about 175 miles southeast of Ledo, India, see map attached (rather in the middle of nowhere). It might be possible that "Graves Registration" could not find the grave of S/Sgt Barber after hostilities ended, or as Rolland suggested, could not positively identify his remains (if in fact recovered).
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Scott M "I am become death, the destroyer of worlds."- referenced - J. Robert Oppenheimer Last edited by 25Kingman49; 28th July 2021 at 00:19. |
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Re: S/Sgt William C. Barber - 26 March 1944 - Broadway - L-1
Thanks for your informative replies.
Apparently the situation is the same for S/Sgt William H. Neff, who collided with S/Sgt Ngon Tom on 10 Feb 1944, with both killed. Story on p. 11 in Ex-CBI-Roundup (first link in my above post) says Sgt Neff was only found four days later and was buried beside wreckage of plane. Evidently his remains were not recovered or identified post war. He's also still on the MIA list, while his gravestone (Rock Island, Illinois) is a memorial. He's also on the Manila Memorial. Regards, Leendert |
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Re: S/Sgt William C. Barber - 26 March 1944 - Broadway - L-1
A "little" additional info added here for L-5 pilots S/Sgt's Tom and Neff, see:
S/Sgt Ngon Ting Tom https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/.../ngon-ting-tom S/Sgt William Heath Neff Rock Island National Cemetery (cenotaph) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...iam-heath-neff S/Sgt William Heath Neff Manila American Cemetery and Memorial https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56771116 Some redundancy here for S/Sgt Neff; cenotaph vs remains not recovered. References: As referenced earlier Ex-CBI roundup 1961, p 11 http://www.ex-cbi-roundup.com/docume...1_december.pdf Ex-CBI roundup 1966 (page 21, 22) http://www.ex-cbi-roundup.com/documents/1966_march.pdf
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Scott M "I am become death, the destroyer of worlds."- referenced - J. Robert Oppenheimer |
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