Paul E Barnett

Howard's father was Thomas Wiley Barnett, 1896-1992, and his mother was Zelpha Elnora Wilson, 1903-1990. He had siblings, Virgil, Elva, Thomas, Robert, and Richard (plus one sister, name not listed). In the 1930 census, Paul was living with his parents and siblings Virgil, Elva, and Thomas in Kokomo Indiana. His mother was born in Indiana and his father was born in Kentucky. His father, age 34, was a farm laborer. In the 1940 census, Paul was age 18, single, still living in Kokomo with his parents and siblings Thomas and Robert. This census says that the highest grade he completed was 7th grade although on his enlistment record he states that he completed high school. He wasn't working but his father was a grinder at Spring Works (?). At the time of his demise, he was married to Evelyn Lillian Sorich, 1919-1999. They married on October 22, 1943 and had no children. Evelyn later married John F Sheridan on February 6 1948. According to his World War II Army Enlistment record, Paul enlisted as a private (single, no dependents) on January 2, 1942. He had 4 years of high school and was 68 inches, weighing 134 lbs. He enlisted in the Air Corps. He didn't list a date of birth, just a year - 1921. Paul was injured in July 1944 (battle injury in the line of duty) and died in the hospital, according to military records. He was awarded the Purple Heart. From Find A Grave: The 455th’s emblem, the Vulgar Vulture (note: see photo under "photos"), was created by Walt Disney Studios. It was a vulture clutching a bomb in it’s talons. The 455th flew 139 combat missions before November of 1944. In April of 1944 two B-24’s were brought down by one another. Flak had struck Lt. Jerome Slater’s plane, causing it to roll over and strike Lt. Michael Callen’s plane. Only one parachute was seen to have opened. Twenty crewmen were listed as missing in action. In May of 1944, they flew 21 missions. The group put 745 B-24’s over target, dropping 1,630 tons of bombs. The casualties were high, however they kept going. The 743rd was based at San Giovanni Field, near Cerignola, Italy. The 455th 743rd shared the base with the 454th Bomber Group. On July 27, 1944 at approximately 1005 hrs., as a result of aggressive air attack by numerous German ME109’s and FW 190’s, Near Bicake, Hungary five B-24 type aircraft including B-24H, S/N 42-52294 (Barnett's Plane) was shot down. The formation had so shifted about that reports were general rather than specific. The aircraft was hit in the bomb bay, caught fire, and went down gradually. It was seen to later have exploded. Paul Barnett was 23 years old.