Leroy Barnard was born on May 18, 1918, one of 15 children to Jonathan Benjamin and Laura Futch Barnard. He married Ruby Lee Griffin in about 1938. They had 2 children together: Carroll Evan Barnard ( 1939-2001) and Roy Edwin Barnard (1941-1995)
In 1942 Leroy Barnard enlisted in the US Air Force. He was deployed to Europe and served in the 669 AAF Bomb Squadron. Staff Sgt Barnard was killed in an airplane crash on April 24, 1944.
Leroy was a SSG in the 669th Bombardment Squadron, part of the 416th Bombardment Group and the 9th Air Force. On April 24, 1944 he was part of pilot Lt. Arthur A. McDonald’s crew that went down in a crash.
From the Squadron History:
"A day of cloudy weather, on the 24th, broke a string of bombing days at six. A mission took off, however, and was recalled before it had reached the coast. While going through the overcast, Lt Arthur A. McDonald lost control of his plane. He went into a dive and lost a wing. He managed to pull the plane out of the dive, and, before he hit the ground, he maneuvered in a last heroic effort to avoid crashing in the midst of a crowded city district. The plane crashed in the only open area in the vicinity, the bombs exploding on impact. The crew, Lt McDonald, S/Sgt LeRoy Barnard, and S/Sgt Joseph J. Shields were killed."
In 1942 Leroy Barnard enlisted in the US Air Force. He was deployed to Europe and served in the 669 AAF Bomb Squadron. Staff Sgt Barnard was killed in an airplane crash on April 24, 1944.
Leroy was a SSG in the 669th Bombardment Squadron, part of the 416th Bombardment Group and the 9th Air Force. On April 24, 1944 he was part of pilot Lt. Arthur A. McDonald’s crew that went down in a crash.
From the Squadron History:
"A day of cloudy weather, on the 24th, broke a string of bombing days at six. A mission took off, however, and was recalled before it had reached the coast. While going through the overcast, Lt Arthur A. McDonald lost control of his plane. He went into a dive and lost a wing. He managed to pull the plane out of the dive, and, before he hit the ground, he maneuvered in a last heroic effort to avoid crashing in the midst of a crowded city district. The plane crashed in the only open area in the vicinity, the bombs exploding on impact. The crew, Lt McDonald, S/Sgt LeRoy Barnard, and S/Sgt Joseph J. Shields were killed."
Leroy Barnard was born on May 18, 1918, one of 15 children to Jonathan Benjamin and Laura Futch Barnard. He married Ruby Lee Griffin in about 1938. They had 2 children together: Carroll Evan Barnard ( 1939-2001) and Roy Edwin Barnard (1941-1995)
In 1942 Leroy Barnard enlisted in the US Air Force. He was deployed to Europe and served in the 669 AAF Bomb Squadron. Staff Sgt Barnard was killed in an airplane crash on April 24, 1944.
Leroy was a SSG in the 669th Bombardment Squadron, part of the 416th Bombardment Group and the 9th Air Force. On April 24, 1944 he was part of pilot Lt. Arthur A. McDonald’s crew that went down in a crash.
From the Squadron History:
"A day of cloudy weather, on the 24th, broke a string of bombing days at six. A mission took off, however, and was recalled before it had reached the coast. While going through the overcast, Lt Arthur A. McDonald lost control of his plane. He went into a dive and lost a wing. He managed to pull the plane out of the dive, and, before he hit the ground, he maneuvered in a last heroic effort to avoid crashing in the midst of a crowded city district. The plane crashed in the only open area in the vicinity, the bombs exploding on impact. The crew, Lt McDonald, S/Sgt LeRoy Barnard, and S/Sgt Joseph J. Shields were killed."
In 1942 Leroy Barnard enlisted in the US Air Force. He was deployed to Europe and served in the 669 AAF Bomb Squadron. Staff Sgt Barnard was killed in an airplane crash on April 24, 1944.
Leroy was a SSG in the 669th Bombardment Squadron, part of the 416th Bombardment Group and the 9th Air Force. On April 24, 1944 he was part of pilot Lt. Arthur A. McDonald’s crew that went down in a crash.
From the Squadron History:
"A day of cloudy weather, on the 24th, broke a string of bombing days at six. A mission took off, however, and was recalled before it had reached the coast. While going through the overcast, Lt Arthur A. McDonald lost control of his plane. He went into a dive and lost a wing. He managed to pull the plane out of the dive, and, before he hit the ground, he maneuvered in a last heroic effort to avoid crashing in the midst of a crowded city district. The plane crashed in the only open area in the vicinity, the bombs exploding on impact. The crew, Lt McDonald, S/Sgt LeRoy Barnard, and S/Sgt Joseph J. Shields were killed."
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STAFF SGT 669 AAF BOMB SQ WORLD WAR II
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