American Air Hero Killed Over China.
Captain Burrall Barnum of Old Lyme, Conn.,holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross for an exploit in which he took on thirty-nine Japanese planes single handed, was killed in the April 1 air battle in which American fighters shot down five and probably destroyed two of nine planes attempting to attack an advanced airdrome.
Captain Barnum, who was said to have had three confirmed victories, died in combat with a Zero. His was the one United States plane lost in the action. He won the DFC for attacking successive waves of Japanese planes Sept. 6 at Hengyang in the only P-40 on hand, going into the air three times for a four hour period against the thirty-nine raiders. The citation said that he had prevented the enemy from effectively observing and strafing the airdrome.
Captain Barnum had been in the Air Corps since September 7, 1940, He received his wings at Maxwell Field, Alabama in April 1941 and was later stationed at Mitchel Field, L.I., and Sikorski Field in Connecticut. Last May he was sent to China in charge of the first group of Army pilots who were to relieve the American Volunteer Group under Major Gen. Claire Chenault. His exploits against the Japanese brought him several citations and a recent recommendation for the AirMedal. Captain Barnum was the son of Walter Barnum of Old Lyme, Conn.,and Mrs. Rowena S. Barnum of 133 E. 55 Street. He was married on June 12, 1937 to the former Miss Lucille Hall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.Louis Ford Hall of Greenwich, Conn., They had a son, David Burrall who also survives. Captain Barnum was a graduate of Yale University and was associated with the Crowell Publishing Company.
American Air Hero Killed Over China.
Captain Burrall Barnum of Old Lyme, Conn.,holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross for an exploit in which he took on thirty-nine Japanese planes single handed, was killed in the April 1 air battle in which American fighters shot down five and probably destroyed two of nine planes attempting to attack an advanced airdrome.
Captain Barnum, who was said to have had three confirmed victories, died in combat with a Zero. His was the one United States plane lost in the action. He won the DFC for attacking successive waves of Japanese planes Sept. 6 at Hengyang in the only P-40 on hand, going into the air three times for a four hour period against the thirty-nine raiders. The citation said that he had prevented the enemy from effectively observing and strafing the airdrome.
Captain Barnum had been in the Air Corps since September 7, 1940, He received his wings at Maxwell Field, Alabama in April 1941 and was later stationed at Mitchel Field, L.I., and Sikorski Field in Connecticut. Last May he was sent to China in charge of the first group of Army pilots who were to relieve the American Volunteer Group under Major Gen. Claire Chenault. His exploits against the Japanese brought him several citations and a recent recommendation for the AirMedal. Captain Barnum was the son of Walter Barnum of Old Lyme, Conn.,and Mrs. Rowena S. Barnum of 133 E. 55 Street. He was married on June 12, 1937 to the former Miss Lucille Hall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.Louis Ford Hall of Greenwich, Conn., They had a son, David Burrall who also survives. Captain Barnum was a graduate of Yale University and was associated with the Crowell Publishing Company.
Inscription
CAPT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II