Fraser Barron
Encyclopedia
James 'Fraser' Barron DSO
& Bar
, DFC
, DFM
was an officer of the Royal New Zealand Air Force
(RNZAF) who was killed in flying operations
during the Second World War.
, New Zealand
. An average student, he was educated at a primary school in Oamaru
and then Waitaki Boys' High School
. In 1939, he was working in Wellington
as a cadet in the Mines Department. Barron enlisted in June 1940 and he commenced training in the RNZAF on 2 July that year. He went through training at Taieri and Wigram
with Jimmy Ward
, who was to win the Victoria Cross
. Barron and Ward sailed together on the Aorangi in January 1941 and were both stationed at 20 OTU Lossiemouth
, in Scotland
.
After leaving 20 OTC, where Barron and his crew survived a ditching in a Vickers Wellington
, he was posted to 15 Squadron stationed at RAF Wyton
flying Short Stirling
s. Through late 1941 and early 1942, Barron was quickly promoted to flight sergeant
and then pilot officer
. In May 1942, after 42 operations including the thousand bomber raids on Cologne
and Essen
, he won his first decoration, the Distinguished Flying Medal
. The citation read in part that Barron had completed many operatioanl flights as captain of aircraft and proved most reliable, efficient and courageous in pressing home attacks regardless of opposition.
Posted to No.1651 Conversion Unit
at Waterbeach
as an instructor, Barron preferred operational flying and in September 1942, he joined 7 Squadron
, a founding pathfinder unit
. Barron would fly 16 sorties on this tour, during which he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
, followed in December 1942 by the award of his Path Finder Force badge. At the end of his tour in February 1943, Barron was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
for "courage, skill and determination". A fortnight later he was awarded his first Distinguished Service Order
for "exceptional gallantry and devotion to duty". Promotions also quickly followed, to flight lieutenant
(skipping the rank of flying officer) and squadron leader
, the latter when he was at No.11 OTU after finishing his second tour, by order of Bomber Command
headquarters.
Tiring of the training environment, Barron eventually persuaded the Group Captain
to approve his return to operations. Barron rejoined the now Lancaster
equipped 7 Squadron in December 1943 and took part in several sorties including on the night of 19/20 February 1944, the Leipzig raid, during which the Royal Air Force
lost 78 bombers. He was promoted to Wing Commander
in February 1944 and on 28 April was appointed Commanding Officer
7 Squadron. Barron and his crew were now often used as Master Bomber to control bomber attacks and for one such attack on Nantes
on 7 May 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
(DSO). His citation read in part; This officer was captain of an aircraft detailed to attack Cologne. When nearing the target area his aircraft was held in a cone of searchlights and subjected to heavy fire from ground defences. Despite this, Flight Lieutenant Barron remained on his course, defying an intense and concentrated barrage and pressed home a successful attack on his second run over the target.
Barron was awarded a Bar
to his DSO in June 1944; his citation read:
On the night of 19/20 May 1944, while acting as master bomber (his 79th sortie in all), Barron was directing an attack on railway yards at Le Mans
, France
. What exactly happened is debated, but a collision with his deputy's aircraft is considered the most likely event. The 15 men on the two 7 Squadron aircraft were all killed. Barron was buried at Le Mans West Cemetery; he was 23 years old. Barron was one of only four New Zealanders to be awarded a bar to his DSO and was considered a standout bomber pilot of the war.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, DFM
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
was an officer of the Royal New Zealand Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
(RNZAF) who was killed in flying operations
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
during the Second World War.
Career
Barron was born on 9 January 1921 in DunedinDunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. An average student, he was educated at a primary school in Oamaru
Oamaru
Oamaru , the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometres south of Timaru and 120 kilometres north of Dunedin, on the Pacific coast, and State Highway 1 and the railway Main South Line connects it to both...
and then Waitaki Boys' High School
Waitaki Boys' High School
Waitaki Boys' High School is a secondary school for boys located in the northern part of the town of Oamaru, Otago, New Zealand, with day and boarding facilities, and was founded in 1883. It currently has a school roll of just over 530....
. In 1939, he was working in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
as a cadet in the Mines Department. Barron enlisted in June 1940 and he commenced training in the RNZAF on 2 July that year. He went through training at Taieri and Wigram
Wigram
Wigram is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. Technically called Wigram Park, the second half of its name is rarely if ever heard. The suburb lies close to the industrial estates of Sockburn and the satellite retail and residential zone of Hornby...
with Jimmy Ward
James Allen Ward
James Allen Ward VC was a New Zealand recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Biography:...
, who was to win the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. Barron and Ward sailed together on the Aorangi in January 1941 and were both stationed at 20 OTU Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth is a Royal Air Force station to the west of the town of Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. It is one of the RAF's biggest bases and is currently Britain's main base for Tornado GR4s. From 2013 the Northern QRA force of Typhoon F2 will relocate to Lossiemouth following the closure of...
, in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
After leaving 20 OTC, where Barron and his crew survived a ditching in a Vickers Wellington
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
, he was posted to 15 Squadron stationed at RAF Wyton
RAF Wyton
RAF Wyton is a Royal Air Force station near St. Ives, Cambridgeshire, England.In terms of organisation RAF Wyton is now part of the combined station RAF Brampton Wyton Henlow, a merger of Wyton with two previously separate bases, RAF Brampton and RAF Henlow. Wyton is the largest of the three. It...
flying Short Stirling
Short Stirling
The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941...
s. Through late 1941 and early 1942, Barron was quickly promoted to flight sergeant
Flight Sergeant
Flight sergeant is a senior non-commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and several other air forces which have adopted all or part of the RAF rank structure...
and then pilot officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
. In May 1942, after 42 operations including the thousand bomber raids on Cologne
Bombing of Cologne in World War II
The City of Cologne was bombed in 262 separate air raids by the Allies during World War II, including 31 times by the Royal Air Force . Air raid alarms went off in the winter/spring of 1940 as enemy bombers passed overhead. However, the first actual bombing took place on 12 May 1940...
and Essen
Bombing of Essen in World War II
During World War II, the industrial town of Essen, was a target of Allied strategic bombing.The Krupp factory was an inmportant industrial target, Essen was a "primary target" designated for area bombing by the February 1942 British Area bombing directive....
, he won his first decoration, the Distinguished Flying Medal
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
. The citation read in part that Barron had completed many operatioanl flights as captain of aircraft and proved most reliable, efficient and courageous in pressing home attacks regardless of opposition.
Posted to No.1651 Conversion Unit
Royal Air Force Conversion Units
Conversion Units and Operational Conversion Units were training units of the Royal Air Force.-History:With the introduction of the new heavy bombers, the 4-engined Short Stirling, Avro Lancaster and Handley Page Halifax, into service, the Royal Air Force introduced Heavy Conversion Units...
at Waterbeach
Waterbeach
Waterbeach is a large fen-edge village located 6 miles north of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire in England, and belongs to the administrative district of South Cambridgeshire. The parish covers an area of 23.26 km².- Village :...
as an instructor, Barron preferred operational flying and in September 1942, he joined 7 Squadron
No. 7 Squadron RAF
No. 7 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Boeing Chinook HC.2 from RAF Odiham, Hampshire.-Formation and early years:No. 7 Squadron was formed at Farnborough Airfield on 1 May 1914 as the last squadron of the RFC to be formed before the First World War, but has been disbanded and reformed...
, a founding pathfinder unit
Pathfinder (RAF)
The Pathfinders were elite squadrons in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. They located and marked targets with flares, which a main bomber force could aim at, increasing the accuracy of their bombing...
. Barron would fly 16 sorties on this tour, during which he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
, followed in December 1942 by the award of his Path Finder Force badge. At the end of his tour in February 1943, Barron was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
for "courage, skill and determination". A fortnight later he was awarded his first Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
for "exceptional gallantry and devotion to duty". Promotions also quickly followed, to flight lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
(skipping the rank of flying officer) and squadron leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
, the latter when he was at No.11 OTU after finishing his second tour, by order of Bomber Command
Bomber Command
Bomber Command is an organizational military unit, generally subordinate to the air force of a country. Many countries have a "Bomber Command", although the most famous ones were in Britain and the United States. A Bomber Command is generally used for Strategic bombing , and is composed of bombers...
headquarters.
Tiring of the training environment, Barron eventually persuaded the Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
to approve his return to operations. Barron rejoined the now Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
equipped 7 Squadron in December 1943 and took part in several sorties including on the night of 19/20 February 1944, the Leipzig raid, during which the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
lost 78 bombers. He was promoted to Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
in February 1944 and on 28 April was appointed Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
7 Squadron. Barron and his crew were now often used as Master Bomber to control bomber attacks and for one such attack on Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
on 7 May 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(DSO). His citation read in part; This officer was captain of an aircraft detailed to attack Cologne. When nearing the target area his aircraft was held in a cone of searchlights and subjected to heavy fire from ground defences. Despite this, Flight Lieutenant Barron remained on his course, defying an intense and concentrated barrage and pressed home a successful attack on his second run over the target.
Barron was awarded a Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
to his DSO in June 1944; his citation read:
On the night of 19/20 May 1944, while acting as master bomber (his 79th sortie in all), Barron was directing an attack on railway yards at Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. What exactly happened is debated, but a collision with his deputy's aircraft is considered the most likely event. The 15 men on the two 7 Squadron aircraft were all killed. Barron was buried at Le Mans West Cemetery; he was 23 years old. Barron was one of only four New Zealanders to be awarded a bar to his DSO and was considered a standout bomber pilot of the war.
Further reading
- Stowers, Richard (2009). Bomber Barron: Wing Commander James Fraser Barron, DSO and Bar, DFC, DFM, Pathfinder Pilot. Published by Hamilton, N.Z. . ISBN 9780473158484.
- Haigh, Bryant et al. (1993). New Zealand and the Distinquished Service Order. Published by J.D. Wills. . ISBN 9780473024062.
- Hanson, Colin (2001). Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force 1923-1999. Published by Volplane Press, Christchurch, N.Z. . ISBN 9780473073015.