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| USAAF 5th AF 1st Composite Fighter Squadron FEAF CRTC School  USAAF c1944 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Edward F. Barker, O-821440 (MIA / KIA, BR) Herkimer, NY MIA September 30, 1944 at 10:30am MACR 9018 Aircraft History Built by Republic at the Indiana Division of Republic Aviation in Evansville, IN. Constructor Number 992. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-47D-15-RA Thunderbolt 42-23241. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the Pacific and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 1st Composite Fighter Squadron, Combat Replacement Training Center (CRTC School) based at Nadzab Airfield. No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engine R-2800-63 serial number 42-126318. Weapon .50 caliber machine guns serial numbers left wing: 976962, 988369, 988230, 977340 and right wing: 970398, 976909, 1082466, 970944. Mission History On September 30, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield at 9:30am, along with another P-47 on a high altitude training mission in the local area. This aircraft was last sighted by fellow pilot, 2nd Lt Ellis C. Baker about 20 miles from Finschafen. Lt Baker's aircraft developed turbo trouble and an oil leak, forcing him to break from the formation. He could not contact Lt. Barker on the radio, who was continuing on a heading of 340 degrees. Weather was clear with unlimited visibility locally with high broken overcast beneath the missing plane when last seen. Afterwards, Baker's P-47 developed an oil leak and he landed safely at Finschafen Airfield for repairs. He took off again and returned to Nadzab Airfield at 4:30pm. Search Both P-47s were scheduled to return to Nadzab Airfield at at 11:30am. When both aircraft failed to return by 12:30, FEAF CRTC School was notified. Immediately, a B-25 searched the Markham Valley area without results. Afterwards, all available P-47s and P-38s searched the same area without results. All area airfields were checked for information with nil results (in fact P-47 piloted by Baker had landed safely at Finschafen Airfield for repairs) and returned at 4:30pm and reported Barker as Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage This P-47 crashed at an elevation of 6,000' above sea level in the Kua Valley near Pindui. During 1962, U.S. Army search mission "2-1962" located and identified the crash site, but the team failed to locate any remains of the pilot, who is assumed to have bailed out prior to the crash. Afterwards, Barker was deemed non-recoverable. During January 22-25, 2002, a team from US Army CILHI returned to the crash site on a survey mission, but found no remains. During late 2012, a team from JPAC excavated the site. The team recovered human remains, aircraft wreckage, military gear and personal effects. Recovery of Remains After the recovery of remains in late 2012, JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools including mitochondrial DNA, which matched his niece and nephew. On January 27, 2015 The remains were positively identified. On July 23, 2015 the Department of Defense (DoD) announced Barker was identified by the efforts of DPAA. His dog tags, class ring from Craig Field and pilot's wings were recovered from the crash site and returned to the family. Memorials Barker was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. After his remains were identified, Barker was buried on August 1, 2015 at Calvary Cemetery in Herkimer, NY. Relatives Marie Shoemaker (sister, deceased) Daryl Frey (niece) Mark Shoemaker (nephew) Jon Shoemaker (nephew) Eric Shoemaker (nephew) Kristopher Shoemaker (nephew) References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward F. Barker USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-47D-15-RA Thunderbolt 42-23241 "23241 (1st Far East Composite Fighter Group) crashed from unknown cause in Kua Valley near Pundui Morobe, Papua New Guinea while on altitude training flight Sep 30, 1944. Pilot MIA and presumed killed. MACR 9018" Missing Air Crew Report 9018 (MACR 9018) Newspaper Article "Mohawk Fighter Plane Pilot Lost While on Flight Over New Guinea" c1944 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward F. Barker "2LT Barker's remains have been recovered and identified in 2015" FindAGrave - 2Lt Edward F Barker (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Edward F Barker (Calvary Cemetery) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-47D Thunderbolt 42-23241 DPAA "Airman Missing From WWII Accounted For (Barker)" July 23, 2015 The Telegram Obituary – Lieutenant Edward F. Barker July 27, 2015 Fenner Funeral Home – Lt. Edward F. Barker AP "WWII pilot's remains to arrive in his NY hometown for burial" July 29, 2015 WKTV "WWII fighter pilot's remains identified as Herkimer native" by Kristen Copeland Jul. 23, 2015 WKTV "Lt. Edward Barker finally laid to rest in Herkimer today" by Skyler Srivastava Aug. 1, 2015 Thanks to Mark Shoemaker for additional information and Kenneth Wilson for constructor number Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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 P-47  Map Sept. 30, 1944  MIA 1 Missing Resolved |
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