Bramwell Rockliff BARBER

Bramwell Rockliff BARBER Update Details

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BARBER, Bramwell Rockliff

Service Numbers:	T21695, 408433
Enlisted:	10 March 1942
Last Rank:	Flight Sergeant
Last Unit:	No. 463 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia, 28 February 1924
Home Town:	Launceston, Launceston, Tasmania
Schooling:	Unknown
Occupation:	Bank Clerk
Died:	Flying Battle, France, 25 June 1944, aged 20 years
Cemetery:	Bussus-Bussuel Communal Cemetery Row 1, Coll Grave 1 Headstone Inscription "HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE. EVER REMEMBERED",
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial

World War 2 Service

10 Mar 1942:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, T21695
25 May 1942:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 408433, Aircrew Training Units, Empire Air Training Scheme, Hobart, Tasmania
26 May 1942:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 408433, No. 1 Initial Training School Somers
25 Jun 1944:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 408433, No. 463 Squadron (RAAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45

Family story on Facebook

408433 Aircraftman, later Flight Sergeant Bramwell Rockliff Barber enlisted in the RAAF in May, 1942 and trained as an aerial gunner (rear gunner) under the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) and was posted to 463 Squadron RAAF based at RAF Waddington, England. The crew made 11 successful operations over France and Germany before Flt Sgt Barber was killed on the night of 24/25 June, 1944 when his Lancaster bomber, serial number LM571, radio call sign JO-E (E-Easy) failed to return from an operational sortie over Prouville, France. After the war it was determined that LM571 was hit by flack bursts over the target and was later attacked by a German night fighter, crashing at Bussus-Bussuel (Somme). Six of the seven crew were killed, including Flt Sgt Barber, aged 20. The only survivor of the crash was bomb aimer, Thomas Malcolm who was later taken POW after being captured in Paris. On his return to Australia after the war, Thomas Malcolm visited Bramwell Barber's parents in Tasmania.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

Biography

Bramwell Rockliff BARKER was born on 28th Feb. 1924 in Ulverstone, Tasmania

His parents were Fletcher Bramwelll and Florence Myrtle (nee ROCKLIFF) BARBER

Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Bramwell Rockliff Barber of Launceston, Tas. Enlisting in the RAAF in May 1942, Flt Sgt Barber trained as an aerial gunner (rear gunner) under the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) and was posted to 463 Squadron RAAF based at RAF Waddington, England. Flt Sgt Barber was killed on the night of 24/25 June 1944 when his Lancaster bomber, serial number LM571, radio call-sign JO-E (E-Easy) failed to return from an operational sortie over Prouville, France. After the war it was determined that JO-E was hit by flack bursts over the target, and was later attacked by a German night-fighter, crashing at Busses-Bussuel (Somme). Six of the seven crew were killed, including Flt Sgt Barber, aged 20.

He died on 25th June 1944 aged 20 years and is buried in Bussus-Bussuel Cemetery - Row 1, Grave 1

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/VeteranCertificate.aspx?VeteranID=1013015 (www.ww2roll.gov.au)

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia