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427th Barrat Crew Robert J. Barrat, Pilot |
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ROBERT J. BARRAT CREW - 427th BS
(crew assigned 427BS: 22 Nov 1944 - photo: Nov 1944)
(Back L-R) S/Sgt Matthew Lazarowicz (R-KIA),
2Lt Dean Harvey (CP-KIA), 2Lt Robert J. Barrat (P-KIA)*,
F/O Shirl P. Best (N-KIA)*, S/Sgt William T. Karp (Tog-KIA)*
(Front L-R)
Sgt Herbert D. Link (WG-KIA)*,
Sgt Louis N. Linhart (BT-KIA)*,
S/Sgt Raymond F. Reiss (E-KIA)*,
Sgt George H. Emerson (TG-POW)
* Joint grave marker - Jefferson Barracks Cemetery, St. Louis, MO
(KIA-POW) On 09 February 1945 mission #313 to Lutzkendorf, Germany in B-17G #43-39149 (no name) (427BS) GN-D. Two 427th BS B-17s collided before "bombs away" - #43-39149, piloted by Lt Barrat (8 KIA 1 POW) and #42-31060 Pogue Ma Hone piloted by Lt A.K. Nemer (5 KIA, 1 POW & 3 Returned). The right wing of #42-31060 hit the tail of #42-39149. The rear part of the fuselage of #42-39149, from the waist window back, was torn off and the B-17 was seen going down in two sections. The sections hit the ground and exploded. Miraculously, Sgt Emerson (TG) managed to parachute out of the severed tail and became a POW. All other crewmen were killed. In 1991, a German eyewitness to the crash of #43-39149 reported that the aircraft was heading for the center of the village of Eisenberg. Just before it would have crashed into the city, killing hundreds of people with its intact armed bomb load, Pilots Barrat and Harvey managed to level the B-17 and dropped their bombs on a field outside the village. Only one house was hit that killed 10 people. It then crashed and exploded in a wooden area near Eisenberg / Thuringen, Germany. In October 1991, a group located the crash site, recovering parts of the aircraft and the human remains of the crew members. A gold wedding band with the initials "MN to PB 1944" was found that belonged to Navigator F/O Best. Another ring with the initials "R.J.B." was found that belonged to Pilot 2Lt Barrat.
On 07 September 1995 villagers erected a memorial to the crew members who reportedly gave their lives to save hundreds of villagers. Surviving crewman George Emerson (TG) attended the dedication. Lt Barrat's ring was presented to his two sons and sister. F/O Best's ring was carried back to the USA by Hal Susskind, Editor Hell's Angels Newsletter who later returned it to F/O Best's sister. The memorial was the first instance where German citizens honored American Airmen.
[Researched by 303rdBGA Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]