John Raymond Barcus
MilitaryThis is a photo of John R. Barcus I obtained from his daughter.
Assigned to the 66th Bomb Squadron, the 44th Bomb Group (the Flying 8 Balls), in the 8th Air Force, USAAF. Shot down over Foggia, Italy 16-Aug-43 in the B-24D, 41-23778, Lady Luck.
Staff Sargent John Raymond Barcus was a waist gunner on the B-24D, 41-23778, Lady Luck, assigned to the 66th Bomb Squadron, the 44th Bomb Group, and the 8th Air Force. He flew on the Ploesti mission as part of Lt. Felber's crew, on temporary deployment, TDY, to the 9th Air Force. SSgt. Barcus returned safely to Benghazi, Libya. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross medal for his participation in the mission.
Awards: DFC, AM, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (44th Bomb Group)
- Service Numbers: 17062705 / O-?
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37038892 / O-740807
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Pathway
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Saint Charles, IL, USA | 15 March 1921 | Son of Raymond Merle and Marjorie (McMasters) Barcus. |
Enlisted |
Chicago, IL | 20 August 1942 | Chicago, Illinois |
Other Tidal Wave survivor |
Ploiești, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Flew on the Ploesti mission on the B-24D, 41-23778, Lady Luck, while TDY to the 9th AF. Returned safely to Libya. 1 Aug 43. |
Died |
Hines Va Hospital: Leehey David MD, 2100 S 5th Ave # 111L, Hines, IL 60141, USA | 18 February 2006 | |
Buried |
North Cemetery, Saint Charles, Kane County, IL | 21 February 2006 | North Cemetery, Saint Charles, Kane County, Illinois, USA |
West Chicago, IL, USA | West Chicago, Illinois. | ||
Based |
Shipdham | Assigned to 66BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF. | |
Other Hospitalised |
Hospitalised, gasoline burns. |
Revisions
The Great Ground-Air Battle Of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart
The Great Ground-Air Battle Of 1 August 1, 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart
https://www.fold3.com/image/96177805
https://www.fold3.com/image/653309016
https://www.fold3.com/record/41405888/social-security-death-index-john-…
https://www.fold3.com/record/89697426/world-war-ii-army-enlistment-reco…
https://www.fold3.com/record/705975076/u-s-wwii-hospital-admission-card…
https://www.fold3.com/record/705975075/u-s-wwii-hospital-admission-card…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59896651/john-raymond-barcus
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ploesti' by Dugan & Stewart