Barrett, Jack Kenneth

Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

Date of birth:: September 9th, 1920 (London, United Kingdom)
Date of death:: May 17th, 1943 (Hamm, Germany)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Cemetery Reichswald Forest
Plot: 31. Row: F. Grave: 14.
Service number:: 115775
Nationality:: British

Biography

Jack Kenneth Barrett, born in Hackney, London, on 9 September 1920, joined the RAF in 1940 and trained as a navigator in South Africa, earning his commission. Posted to 207 Squadron in February 1942. By September 1942 he completed 19 missions.

In November, Barrett returned to 207 Squadron. Over the next few months, Barrett flew around 20 more operations but was briefly absent, possibly due to illness. By March 1943, he had completed his tour and was recommended for a DFC.

However, the award did not arrive before he set off on the Dams Raid in the early hours of 17 May 1943. Within three hours, he was killed when AJ-C was shot down near Hamm.
Originally buried by the Germans in Hamm, Barrett and his crewmates were later reinterred in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Flying Officer
Unit:: No. 207 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: 1943

"Flying Officer Barrett has invariably displayed a high standard of navigation during operational flights. His good work has contributed to the success of the operations in which he has participated. On one occasion, when returning from a raid on Saarbrucken, one engine failed when leaving the target area and a second failed when over the French coast. Although the situation appeared desperate for a time, Flying Officer Barrett continued to give cool and effective navigational directions which greatly assisted the captain in landing the bomber safely. Throughout his operational career, this officer has displayed exceptional skill, courage and devotion to duty."