Edward Barnett is from Chicago, Cook County, IL.

He had enlisted in the Army Air Forces. Served during World War II. He had the rank of Second Lieutenant. Occupation or specialty was Co-Pilot. Service number was O-730337. Served with 44th Bomber Group, Heavy, 66th Bomber Squadron.

Barnett was reported missing and ultimately declared dead on August 1, 1943. Recorded circumstances attributed to: "Missing in action". Incident location: Ploiesti, Romania.

He was on the crew of the B-24D Liberator #41-24015 "Wing Dinger" during a mission to the oil refinery at Ploiesti, Romania. They were shot down by enemy fire over the target area. Lt. Barnett was a recipient of the Distinguished flying cross for his valor in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" August 1st 1943. One of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 44th BG destroy Romanian oil refineries. Lt. Barnett's remains were never recovered.

Edward Barnett is memorialized at Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Italy. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location.

COMMENDATIONS

★ Distinguished Flying Cross ★ Air Medal ★ Purple Heart

Crew of #41-24015

7 casualties related to the #41-24015 incident on August 1, 1943.

Pilot: 1st Lt. George W Winger, IL Fold3

Co Pilot: 2nd Lt. Edward Barnett, IL Fold3

Radio Operator: Sgt. Howard F Gotts, NY Fold3

Bombardier: Sgt. Jacob , WA Fold3

Flight Engineer: T/Sgt.Harold Kretzer, MN Fold3

Navigator: Frederick H Palmer, CA Fold3

Tail Gunner: Sgt. Elvin L Phillips, UT Fold3

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org/. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.