Noted Canadian War Ace Dies in Crash of Plane

Noted Canadian War Ace Dies in Crash of Plane

Colonel Barker Loses Life After Motor Of His Craft Stalls—Was Famous Fighter

by The Associated Press

   Ottawa, Ont. March 12 — Canada's second ranking ace of the World war, Colonel William G. Barker, 35 years old, crashed to his death at the Rockcliffe Park Royal Canadian air force field today when the motor of a new ship he was testing stalled in an upward loop while flying at a low altitude.
   Barker, ace, who had 52 German planes to his credit and once shot his way out of a "flying circus," never had a chance, once his ship started plunging noseward to earth.
   Colonel Barker's war flying record was excelled among Canadian aviators only by that of Colonel [ William Bishop], V.C. He received a long list of decorations, headed by the enviable Victoria cross. The other citations included the Distinguished Service order, the Military cross, with two bars, Medalgia [sic] Valore D'Argenta (Italian) and the Croix De Guerre (French). He was wounded twice and was thrice mentioned in dispatches.
   Colonel Barker was decorated with the Victoria cross after a feat which is listed as one of the air epics of the war. A short time before the armistice, he was attacking an enemy plane when he ran into a "flying circus" of Germany [sic] fighting ships. He brought down six of the German planes, and although badly wounded, brought his own machine safely to earth.
   The intrepid airman, whose brilliant record was written on three major fronts, entered the war as a member of the Canadian Mounted Rifles. Inspired by the air battles he witnessed over the front lines, he obtained a transfer to the flying corps. Then he soon launched upon the glorious career that earned him the highest decoration of the crown.
   Colonel Barker was a native of Manitoba. He lived in West Toronto and was president of the Lyntboch Tobacco Co., Ltd., and vice president of the Middleton Tobacco Co., Ltd., and the Norfolk Tobacco Plantations, Ltd. He also was president of the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey club.

Oil City Derrick (Oil City, Pennsylvania), Thursday, March 13, 1930, p 1