Fraser Barron

Fraser Barron
Birth name	James Fraser Barron
Born	9 January 1921 Dunedin, New Zealand
Died	20 May 1944 (aged 23) Le Mans, France
Allegiance	New Zealand
Service/branch	Royal New Zealand Air Force
Years of service	1940 – 1944
Rank	Wing commander
Unit	No. 7 Squadron RAF No. 15 Squadron RAF
Commands held	No. 7 Squadron RAF
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Distinguished Service Order & Bar Distinguished Flying Cross Distinguished Flying Medal

Fraser Barron DSO & Bar, DFC, DFM (9 January 1921 – 20 May 1944), was an officer of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) who flew as a pilot with Bomber Command and was killed in flying operations during World War II.

Born in Dunedin, Barron was working as a clerk when the Second World War began. He volunteered for the RNZAF and qualified as a pilot in late 1940. He went to England as a sergeant to serve with the Royal Air Force and after training on heavy bombers was posted to No. 15 Squadron, flying Short Stirling bombers. He completed a first tour of operations by April 1942, flying 39 missions, after which he performed instructing duties. He commenced a second tour in September 1942, this time with No. 7 Squadron, part of the Pathfinder Force, flying numerous missions to mark targets for following bombers. Already a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Medal, awarded during his first tour, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and then, at the conclusion of his second tour, the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). By now having reached the rank of squadron leader, another period as an instructor followed. He soon desired a return to operations and arranged to be posted back to No. 7 Squadron. Now flying Avro Lancaster bombers, he flew on several more missions until he was killed on 20 May 1944, when his aircraft and its crew crashed at Le Mans. He was posthumously awarded a bar to his DSO, one of only four personnel of the RNZAF to receive this honour during the Second World War.