USMC World War II
S/Sgt. Donald E. Barker /Aerial Observer/Gunner
Accidental death location New Hebrides, date of loss November 23, 1943 Body not recovered.
Unit Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, Marine Air Group 11, 1st Marine Air Wing, FMF,
Hometown: Franksville Wisconsin
Guardian, Miss Verne Pahl
service# 388535
Awards: World War II Victory Medal
Details of career here.
In November 1943 the USAAF 403 Troop Carrier Group (TCG) was part of an organisation known as SCAT - South Pacific Combat Air Transport. It was based at Luganville Airport (aka Pekoa) on Espirítu Santo and provided an air freight and military passenger service all around the South Pacific. Douglas C-47 Skytrain 41-18675, call-sign "675-Baker-253" took off from Noumea-Tontouta Airport, New Caledonia bound for Espiritu Santo. Radio contact was established at 0810 but the aircraft failed to respond to a scheduled call at 0910. Two days later, damaged gear and some personal effects from the plane were found in Nakety Bay. A cold front had passed through the New Caledonia area in the early hours of the morning of the 23rd bringing a cloud layer at 2 to 4 thousand feet and a visibility of 4 to 6 miles, with 3 miles in heavier rain. The route was considered flyable on instruments and several aircraft flew it that day without the pilots reporting any difficulty with the weather conditions. The bodies of the 6 crew-members and 19 passengers (3 RNZAF and 16 USMC from VMTB-232) were never found. SSgt Barker was one of the passenger.
----------------------------------------
On 1 June 1943, the squadron became Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 232 (VMTB-232)
he Red Devils acquired a new mission (torpedo bombing) and new equipment (the Grumman TBF-1 Avenger.
From May to October 1944, the Red Devils flew from fields throughout the Solomons. From
the New Hebrides in the south to Emirau in the north, the squadron, then assigned to MAG
11, sought out enemy targets. In November, the unit moved to Falalop Island, Ulithi Atoll.
S/Sgt. Donald E. Barker /Aerial Observer/Gunner
Accidental death location New Hebrides, date of loss November 23, 1943 Body not recovered.
Unit Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, Marine Air Group 11, 1st Marine Air Wing, FMF,
Hometown: Franksville Wisconsin
Guardian, Miss Verne Pahl
service# 388535
Awards: World War II Victory Medal
Details of career here.
In November 1943 the USAAF 403 Troop Carrier Group (TCG) was part of an organisation known as SCAT - South Pacific Combat Air Transport. It was based at Luganville Airport (aka Pekoa) on Espirítu Santo and provided an air freight and military passenger service all around the South Pacific. Douglas C-47 Skytrain 41-18675, call-sign "675-Baker-253" took off from Noumea-Tontouta Airport, New Caledonia bound for Espiritu Santo. Radio contact was established at 0810 but the aircraft failed to respond to a scheduled call at 0910. Two days later, damaged gear and some personal effects from the plane were found in Nakety Bay. A cold front had passed through the New Caledonia area in the early hours of the morning of the 23rd bringing a cloud layer at 2 to 4 thousand feet and a visibility of 4 to 6 miles, with 3 miles in heavier rain. The route was considered flyable on instruments and several aircraft flew it that day without the pilots reporting any difficulty with the weather conditions. The bodies of the 6 crew-members and 19 passengers (3 RNZAF and 16 USMC from VMTB-232) were never found. SSgt Barker was one of the passenger.
----------------------------------------
On 1 June 1943, the squadron became Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 232 (VMTB-232)
he Red Devils acquired a new mission (torpedo bombing) and new equipment (the Grumman TBF-1 Avenger.
From May to October 1944, the Red Devils flew from fields throughout the Solomons. From
the New Hebrides in the south to Emirau in the north, the squadron, then assigned to MAG
11, sought out enemy targets. In November, the unit moved to Falalop Island, Ulithi Atoll.
USMC World War II
S/Sgt. Donald E. Barker /Aerial Observer/Gunner
Accidental death location New Hebrides, date of loss November 23, 1943 Body not recovered.
Unit Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, Marine Air Group 11, 1st Marine Air Wing, FMF,
Hometown: Franksville Wisconsin
Guardian, Miss Verne Pahl
service# 388535
Awards: World War II Victory Medal
Details of career here.
In November 1943 the USAAF 403 Troop Carrier Group (TCG) was part of an organisation known as SCAT - South Pacific Combat Air Transport. It was based at Luganville Airport (aka Pekoa) on Espirítu Santo and provided an air freight and military passenger service all around the South Pacific. Douglas C-47 Skytrain 41-18675, call-sign "675-Baker-253" took off from Noumea-Tontouta Airport, New Caledonia bound for Espiritu Santo. Radio contact was established at 0810 but the aircraft failed to respond to a scheduled call at 0910. Two days later, damaged gear and some personal effects from the plane were found in Nakety Bay. A cold front had passed through the New Caledonia area in the early hours of the morning of the 23rd bringing a cloud layer at 2 to 4 thousand feet and a visibility of 4 to 6 miles, with 3 miles in heavier rain. The route was considered flyable on instruments and several aircraft flew it that day without the pilots reporting any difficulty with the weather conditions. The bodies of the 6 crew-members and 19 passengers (3 RNZAF and 16 USMC from VMTB-232) were never found. SSgt Barker was one of the passenger.
----------------------------------------
On 1 June 1943, the squadron became Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 232 (VMTB-232)
he Red Devils acquired a new mission (torpedo bombing) and new equipment (the Grumman TBF-1 Avenger.
From May to October 1944, the Red Devils flew from fields throughout the Solomons. From
the New Hebrides in the south to Emirau in the north, the squadron, then assigned to MAG
11, sought out enemy targets. In November, the unit moved to Falalop Island, Ulithi Atoll.
S/Sgt. Donald E. Barker /Aerial Observer/Gunner
Accidental death location New Hebrides, date of loss November 23, 1943 Body not recovered.
Unit Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, Marine Air Group 11, 1st Marine Air Wing, FMF,
Hometown: Franksville Wisconsin
Guardian, Miss Verne Pahl
service# 388535
Awards: World War II Victory Medal
Details of career here.
In November 1943 the USAAF 403 Troop Carrier Group (TCG) was part of an organisation known as SCAT - South Pacific Combat Air Transport. It was based at Luganville Airport (aka Pekoa) on Espirítu Santo and provided an air freight and military passenger service all around the South Pacific. Douglas C-47 Skytrain 41-18675, call-sign "675-Baker-253" took off from Noumea-Tontouta Airport, New Caledonia bound for Espiritu Santo. Radio contact was established at 0810 but the aircraft failed to respond to a scheduled call at 0910. Two days later, damaged gear and some personal effects from the plane were found in Nakety Bay. A cold front had passed through the New Caledonia area in the early hours of the morning of the 23rd bringing a cloud layer at 2 to 4 thousand feet and a visibility of 4 to 6 miles, with 3 miles in heavier rain. The route was considered flyable on instruments and several aircraft flew it that day without the pilots reporting any difficulty with the weather conditions. The bodies of the 6 crew-members and 19 passengers (3 RNZAF and 16 USMC from VMTB-232) were never found. SSgt Barker was one of the passenger.
----------------------------------------
On 1 June 1943, the squadron became Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 232 (VMTB-232)
he Red Devils acquired a new mission (torpedo bombing) and new equipment (the Grumman TBF-1 Avenger.
From May to October 1944, the Red Devils flew from fields throughout the Solomons. From
the New Hebrides in the south to Emirau in the north, the squadron, then assigned to MAG
11, sought out enemy targets. In November, the unit moved to Falalop Island, Ulithi Atoll.
Inscription
STAFF SERGEANT - USMC - WISCONSIN
Other Records
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