Posted by Terry Powers on November 6, 2022:

dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000000jPAZwEAO KOREAN WAR UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Unaccounted For First Lieutenant David Porter Barnes, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Nebraska, served with the 522nd Fighter Escort Squadron, 27 Fighter-Escort Group. On April 22, 1951, he was the pilot of an F-84 Thunderjet (serial number 49-2384) that took off from Itasuke Air Base, Japan, as the lead in a four-plane reconnaissance mission over Kumhwa, North Korea. While over the briefed target of enemy gun emplacements, his F-84 was hit by anti-aircraft fire and caught fire. 1st Lt Barnes parachuted out of the aircraft and appeared to land in a field and take cover in a culvert. Two helicopters attempted to retrieve him, but hostile ground fire prevented a rescue. He was captured by enemy forces and taken to the Suan Mining Camp in North Korea, where he died of malnutrition in early July 1951. He is still unaccounted-for following the end of hostilities. Today, First Lieutenant Barnes is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National American Cemetery of the Pacific.

admin