World War II Honoree

Robert Rutledge Barrett

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

East Orange, New Jersey

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 30 SEPTEMBER 1940 AT NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL TRAINING AT SMOKY HILL ARMY AIR FIELD NEAR SALINA, KANSAS. DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 499TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 878TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON 13 DECEMBER 1944, HE FLEW AS THE FLIGHT ENGINEER ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS, TAIL CODE V-SQUARE-47 (SERIAL # 42-63439). IT WAS ONE OF 90 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-GROUP FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT ENGINE PLANT NEAR NAGOYA, JAPAN. FLAK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY WAS HEAVY AND ENEMY FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ATTACKS WERE DESCRIBED AS MODERATE, WITH 106 PASSES REPORTED. HE WAS KILLED ON THE RETURN ROUTE, WHEN HIS FUEL STARVED AIRCRAFT WAS FORCED TO DITCH IN MAGICIENNE BAY APPROXIMATELY 1500 FEET OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF SAIPAN. CONTROL TOWER OBSERVERS SAW THE CRASH AND RESCUE BOATS WERE IMMEDIATELY DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE; BUT THERE WERE NO SURVIVORS.