William
Barker
Name: William George
Barker
Country: Canada
Rank: Major
Service: Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force
Units: 4, 9, 15, 28, 66 (RFC) 139, 201 (RAF)
Victories: 50
Date Of Birth: November 3, 1894
Place of Birth: Dauphin, Manitoba
Date Of Death: March 12, 1930
Place of Death: Rockcliffe Aerodrome, near Ottawa
Barker joined the Canadian Mounted Rifles in December of 1914.
He spent a year in the trenches before transferring to the Royal
Flying Corps in April of 1916. After starting out as a mechanic,
he qualified as an observer in August 1916 and shot down his first
enemy aircraft from the rear seat of a B.E.2d. Assigned to England
in November 1916, he soloed after 55 minutes of dual instruction
and received a pilot's certificate in January of 1917.
A month later, he was back in France flying an R.E.8 until
wounded by anti-aircraft fire on August 7, 1917. When he
recovered, he served as a flight instructor before returning to
combat duty in France. In November of 1917, his squadron was
reassigned to Italy where Barker's Sopwith Camel became the single
most successful fighter aircraft of the war. Logging more than 379
hours of flight time, Barker shot down 46 enemy aircraft before
Camel #B6313 was retired from service and dismantled on October 2,
1918.
That month, he assumed command of the air combat school at
Hounslow. Deciding he needed to brush up on air combat techniques
for his new assignment, Barker joined 201 Squadron for ten days in
France. During that time, he saw no action and was about to return
to England when he decided to make one more excursion over the
front.
On October 27, 1918, while flying alone, he encountered sixty
Fokker D.VIIs flying in stepped formation. In this heroic battle
with Jagdgeschwader 3, Barker shot down four enemy aircraft
despite serious wounds to both legs and his elbow. Fainting from
pain and loss of blood, he managed to crash land his Snipe safely
behind British lines. Barker received the Victoria Cross (VC) for
this action.
Victoria Cross (VC)
"On the morning of the October 27, 1918, this officer observed an
enemy two-seater over the Foret de Mormal. He attacked this
machine and after a short burst it broke up in the air. At the
same time a Fokker biplane attacked him, and he was wounded in the
right thigh, but managed, despite this, to shoot down the enemy
aeroplane in flames. He then found himself in the middle of a
large formation of Fokkers who attacked him from all directions,
and was again severely wounded in the left thigh, but succeeded in
driving down two of the enemy in a spin. He lost consciousness
after that, and his machine fell out of control. On recovery, he
found himself being again attacked heavily by a large formation,
and singling out one machine he deliberately charged and drove it
down in flames. During this fight his left elbow was shattered and
he again fainted, and on regaining consciousness he found himself
still being attacked, but notwithstanding that he was now severely
wounded in both legs and his left arm shattered, he dived on the
nearest machine and shot it down in flames. Being greatly
exhausted, he dived out of the fight to regain our lines, but was
met by another formation, which attacked and endeavoured to cut him
off, but after a hard fight he succeeded in breaking up this
formation and reached our lines, where he crashed on landing. This
combat, in which Major Barker destroyed four enemy machines (three
of them in flames), brought his total successes to fifty enemy
machines destroyed, and is a notable example of the exceptional
bravery and disregard of danger which this very gallant officer
has always displayed throughout his distinguished career." VC
citation, London Gazette, November 30, 1918
Military Cross (MC)
"For conspicuous gallantry in action. He flew at a height of 500
feet over the enemy's lines, and brought back most valuable
information. On another occasion, after driving off two hostile
machines, he carried out an excellent photographic
reconnaissance." MC citation, London Gazette, January 10, 1917
Military Cross (MC) Bar
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has done
continuous good work in co-operation with the artillery, and has
carried out successful reconnaissances under most difficult and
dangerous conditions." MC Bar citation, London Gazette, July18,
1917
Military Cross (MC) Bar
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When leading
patrols he on one occasion attacked eight hostile machines,
himself shooting down two, and on another occasion seven, one of
which he shot down. In two months he himself destroyed four enemy
machines and drove down one and burned two balloons." MC Bar
citation, London Gazette, September 16, 1918
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When on scouting
and patrol work he has on five different occasions brought down
and destroyed five enemy aeroplanes and two balloons, though on
two of these occasions he was attacked by superior numbers. On
each occasion the hostile machines were observed to crash to
earth, the wreckage bursting into flames. His splendid example of
fearlessness and magnificent leadership have been of inestimable
value to his squadron." DSO citation, London Gazette, July 18,
1918
Distinguished Service Order (DSO) Bar
"A highly distinguished patrol leader whose courage, resource and
determination has set a fine example to those around him. Up to
the 20th July, 1918, he had destroyed thirty-three enemy aircraft
- twenty-one of these since the date of the last award (second Bar
to the Military Cross) was conferred on him. Major Barker has
frequently led the formation against greatly superior numbers of
the enemy with conspicuous success." DSO Bar citation, London
Gazette, November 2, 1918
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