World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Dauphin, Canada, he served as a Major flight commander in the Royal Canadian Air Force. On the morning of the October 27, 1918, Major Barker observed an enemy two-seater over the Foret de Mormal, France. He attacked this plane, shot it down and at the same time a German Fokker biplane attacked him. He was wounded but managed to shoot it down also. He then found himself in the middle of a large formation of Fokkers which attacked him from all directions, he was again wounded but succeeded in driving down two of the enemy. He was still being attacked, but dived on the nearest plane and shot it down in flames. Being greatly exhausted, he dived to get out of the fight and was met by another formation. They attacked trying to cut him off, but after a hard fight he succeeded in breaking up this formation and reached his own lines, where he crashed on landing. With the four planes he shot down in this combat, it brought his total to 50 victories and he became one of the aerial legends of the war. For most distinguished gallantry in the face of the enemy, he was vested the Victoria Cross on November 30, 1918. His other awards included the Distinguished Service Order with Bar, Military Cross with two Bars, Silver Medal of Valour from Italy, Croix de Guerre from France, making him the most decorated member of Canada's military. He left the Royal Canadian Air Force in August 1926, as a Lieutenant Colonel and returned to Canada. There he worked in the tobacco industry, was the first president of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the new President of the Fairchild Aviation Corporation of Canada. On March 12, 1930, Barker was killed while demonstrating a new two-seater aircraft at Rockcliffe Aerodrome, near Ottawa.
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Dauphin, Canada, he served as a Major flight commander in the Royal Canadian Air Force. On the morning of the October 27, 1918, Major Barker observed an enemy two-seater over the Foret de Mormal, France. He attacked this plane, shot it down and at the same time a German Fokker biplane attacked him. He was wounded but managed to shoot it down also. He then found himself in the middle of a large formation of Fokkers which attacked him from all directions, he was again wounded but succeeded in driving down two of the enemy. He was still being attacked, but dived on the nearest plane and shot it down in flames. Being greatly exhausted, he dived to get out of the fight and was met by another formation. They attacked trying to cut him off, but after a hard fight he succeeded in breaking up this formation and reached his own lines, where he crashed on landing. With the four planes he shot down in this combat, it brought his total to 50 victories and he became one of the aerial legends of the war. For most distinguished gallantry in the face of the enemy, he was vested the Victoria Cross on November 30, 1918. His other awards included the Distinguished Service Order with Bar, Military Cross with two Bars, Silver Medal of Valour from Italy, Croix de Guerre from France, making him the most decorated member of Canada's military. He left the Royal Canadian Air Force in August 1926, as a Lieutenant Colonel and returned to Canada. There he worked in the tobacco industry, was the first president of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the new President of the Fairchild Aviation Corporation of Canada. On March 12, 1930, Barker was killed while demonstrating a new two-seater aircraft at Rockcliffe Aerodrome, near Ottawa.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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