Barker, Arthur
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Arthur |
Surname | Barker |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 09-12-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of George and Elsie Barker, of Huddersfield. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington III |
Serial Number | BJ782 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Oxford (Botley) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot H/3. Grave 138. |
Epitaph | HE GAVE HIS LIFE THAT WE MIGHT LIVE. A NOBLE SACRIFICE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 5 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1621971 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 91 |
Squadron | 21 OTU |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Main Gate of UK Fire & Rescue Service College, Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Slate Plaque |
Memorial Text | The Fire Service College Moreton in Marsh England, Royal Air Force Moreton-in-Marsh 1941-1959. Long ago it was and yet who amongst us dare forget |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 09-12-1944 |
End Date | 09-12-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Moreton-in-Marsh |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | training |
Reason for Loss | T/O 1820 for a night cross-country. At sometime prior to 2145, the starboard engine caught fire at 5000 feet. Unable to establish their practice position, the crew broadcast a number of distress calls and as a result were given a course that would take them to Barford St. John. Eyewitnesses here saw the Wellington in the circuit losing height, but as it entered the funnels the engine note increased as if the crew were intending to overshoot however, after crossing the airfield, it dived suddenly and came down on a railway embankment on the ENE side of the aerodrome, near the village of Adderbury and burst into flames. |