The Man Behind the Name
Sgt. James W. Barrer served as a gunner on a B-24 that participated in the August 1, 1943 Ploesti raid. He did not bail out, as the aircraft was flying too close to the ground. He was seriously injured in the crash landing and was heard to say 'I am hurt' before losing consciousness.
Despite his serious injuries, Barrer survived the war. He was personally seen by Ex S/Sgt. Jack Reed (serial 18084225) alive in February 1945 at a redistribution station in Miami Beach, Florida.
Service record.
Missions flown.
The missions below are those we have been able to document for this airman, drawn from flight logs, mission records, and archival sources. It is not necessarily a complete account of every mission flown; gaps may reflect missing documentation, transferred assignments, or records lost to time.