 |
| Ray Barrett is 2nd row, far right |
 |
| Patch of the 352nd Bombardment Squadron |
Raymond Gene Barrett enlisted in the Army Air Force during World War Two, with intentions to serve as a pilot. He graduated from Primary Flight Training School after having soloed and qualified in a Fairchild PT-19 in Ballinger, Texas; however, there was a surplus of pilots and a much bigger need for gunners. He retrained as an Armorer and Gunner then served as a Waist Gunner, Armorer and Togglier on a B-17 during World War Two.
Raymond G Barrett | ||||||||||||
| Cpl 352 Squadron | ||||||||||||
Ray G. Barrrett's service record: Induction: 21 Jun 1943: Active Service: 2 Jul 1943: Basic Training for Aviation Cadets: July/Aug 1943, Jefferson Barracks, MO. : College Training Detachment (5mos.) at 2600 AAFBU, CTD Aircrew (S.W. : Missouri Teacher's College, Springfield, MO). : Primary Flight Training: Feb/March 1944 306th AAFFTD, Bruce Field, Ballinger, TX: Armorer Technical School: Spring 1944, AAFTS Lowry Field, CO: Flexible Gunnery School: Aug/Sep 1944, 327 AAF Base Unit, Kingman Field, AZ: Combat Crew Training: Oct 44-Jan 45, 3rd AF PD, Drew Field, Tampa also : Replacement Depot, Plant Park, Tampa. Depart US: 18 Feb 1945 from 1379 Base Unit, Dow Field, Bangor, ME: Crash at Meeks field Iceland 3/3/1945. Arrive Lucera Field, Foggia, Italy 16 March 1945 serving with 301st Bomb Group - 352nd Bomb Squadron, : George D. Grace ? Pilot for crew. : Depart Italy: 14 Jun 1945: Arrive US: 18 Jun 1945: Separation: 24 Nov 1945, 211th AAF Base Unit, Sioux Falls, SD: Ray passed away in Feb 2005 and is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, MN. : | ||||||||||||
  | ||||||||||||
Crew was formed at Plant Park, Tampa and then picked up their 1st aircraft at Savannah, GA and named it 'Misbehavin' Lady'. Tail number was 44-83340, B-17G. They flew the northern route but got caught in bad snow storm at night and crash landed into anther aircraft at Meeks Field Iceland on 3/3/45. Took ATC rest of way to Scotland, England, Paris then Bari, Italy. The crew consisted of the following: George D. Grace, Jr. - Pilot Thomas J. Kerrissey - Co-Pilot Leonard P. Spagnolo - Navigator John P. Snyder - Bombardier Lawrence T. Ducas - Flight Engineer Raymond Gene Barrett - Waist Gunner & Togglier William J. Radigan - Waist Gunner Arthur G. Buchholz - Ball Turret Gunner Anthony T. Corbi - Tail Gunner Albert R. Masserini - Radio Operator They arrived at Lucera 16 March 1945 and flew 21 missions. Bombardier was pulled from crew for Radar training - and Ray stood in as Togglier. The planes they flew from Italy were: 'Ain't Misbehavin' - a B-17G and 'Snoozin' Susan' - an older B-17F with camoflage and retrofitted chin turret. Crew's dog was 'Malfunction'. | ||||||||||||
05/10/1945 Cpl 15th AF General Order 3101 Air Medal |
We've also submitted to the 301st Bomb Group website here:
