Barker, John Norman (Flight Sergeant, b.1917 - d. 1942)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 406341 Flight Sergeant John Norman Barker, 12 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia and the United Kingdom, 1941-1942.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of one flying log book and one copy of a photograph relating to Flight Sergeant John Norman Barker. The flying log book contains entries dated between 10 January 1941 and 7 September 1942, and covers the period of Flight Sergeant Barker’s training in Western Australia and the United Kingdom, and service with 12 Squadron, based in the United Kingdom. The log book entries record information such as dates and times of flights, aircraft types and numbers, other crewmembers, and purposes of flights. Some of the recorded purposes of flights include elementary flying training, service flying training, operational training, cross country flights, and bombing operations on targets in enemy-occupied Europe. This log book also contains training notes and certificates for courses completed by Flight Sergeant Barker. The copy of a photograph depicts Flight Sergeant Barker [date unknown].

Flight Sergeant John Norman Barker enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 11 November 1940, after previously serving with the militia. He undertook his flying training in Western Australia, and completed his operational training in the United Kingdom. Flight Sergeant Barker went on to serve as a pilot with 12 Squadron, based in the United Kingdom. With this squadron, he participated in bombing operations targeting locations in enemy-occupied Europe. On 7 September 1942, Flight Sergeant Barker and his crew were killed in a flying battle while on an operation near La Rochelle, France. Flight Sergeant Barker is buried at Pornic War Cemetery, Pornic, France.