FEATURE ARTICLE, AUGUST 2022
Above: Leslie Barr with Pilot Officer Prune in an “Illustrated” magazine feature, 1942.
LESLIE BARR and his crew, 7 Squadron, were amongst the first Path Finder Force casualties after the Force was in founded on 15 August 1942.
The shooting-down of the Barr crew occurred on 10 September 1942, near Echt in Holland, west of Dusseldorf, the target of that night’s operation. Only two men out of the crew of eight survived. Freberg became an evader and Cook became a POW.
THE CREW
- F/Lt L R Barr DFC*
- P/O I D Fountain RCAF
- Sgt M S Pepper DFM
- P/O P G Freberg RCAF
- P/O E R M Runnacles
- P/O E H Cook
- Sgt J Greenwood
- Sgt P B P Price
Other early Pathfinder losses included the Savage crew of 156 Squadron, who were shot down on a Kassel operation on 27/28 August 1942. They are buried at Reichswald Forest Cemetery. See this page: PFF Losses First Month, 1942
We are seeking further information on the Savage crew, 156 Squadron, particularly Gilbert Hebblethwaite on behalf of his son. Please follow the link above.
- F/Sgt M G Savage
- Sgt Gilbert Hebblethwaite (2nd pilot)
- P/O J Hayes, RNZAF
- P/O J Leewarden
- P/O G C W Stone, MiD
- Sgt F V H Shepherd
