Barnett John Lt

Assigned Aircraft	P-38H 42-67045
Mission History	Not Known
Mission List	Not Known
Air Scores	0-0-0
Ground Scores	0-0
Notes	MACR No. 01743 05 January 1944 - Killed in action Major Mark Shipman reported: "On the mission of January 5, 1944, in support of heavy bombers to Kiel, Germany, 25 plus single engine enemy aircraft were engaged about twenty miles east of Meldorf. During the engagement Lt. Barnett lost his right engine apparently due to mechanical failure rather than enemy action. He said he could only get 15 inches on his right engine. This indicating a possible turbo failure. He also said his compass was out. He called for help saying he was behind and I said I would come back with four ships. We found him at 25,000 feet. Escort was normal from a point about 25 miles east of Cuxhaven on a course of 270 degrees. Upon reaching the coast or about 5 miles from there he called again stating he had lost his good engine and from then on our here-to-fore good R/T failed completely. Two attempts were made to reestablish (sic.) it and at the same time we lost sight of him. With our four ships , Lt. Steiner and I had been weaving over the top of him. But after he called saying his good engine had gone over the hill, we never saw him again. At the time when he was last sighted there were no E/A in the vicinity either at his altitude of 25,000 or below that altitude as far as I could see. Judging from the way we lost sight of him so fast and from the way the R/T broke down I should say that he bailed out, but no chute was observed to substantiate this observation. When last sighted, he was approximately five miles inland in the vicinity of Cuxhaven. The weather at the time was CAVY with the upper winds being from the north while those on the ground were blowing out of the west with about 25 miles per hour velocity. If he did bail out the wind would have carried him inland rather than out to sea. Lt Barnett's ship was not smoking and seemed to be under control when last sighted." Lt. Barnett was killed by enemy fighters. He was from Corvalis, Oregon and is buried at Plot D, Row 14, Grave 51 in the Ardennes American Military Cemetery and Memorial, Neupre, Belgium.
Memories
Additional Photo	Lt.John Barnet's Grave at the Ardennes American Military Cemetery and Memorial, Neupre, Belgium. (Paul Patist) Lt. Barnett's entry in the American Roll of Honour in St. Paul's Cathedral, London Nb. Photos open in new window. Close window to return to this page.