STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of 1ST LT Robert (Ken) Barmore, U.S. Air Force (1942-1945)

Ken and two best friends, Jim Woodruff and Ed Pederson decided they wanted to join the Air Force rather than wait to be drafted.

Ken wanted to fly, he joined United Air Lines for several years, but then he was laid off. He became a Crew Supervisor and retired after 30 years with United.

Being shot down over Romania on May 5, 1944, and becoming a POW, was a significant event in his life.

When the B-24 was hit, it severely injured two gunners. After telling the pilot to bail out, Ken bravely helped the two gunners out of the plane. On his way to the back of the plane, his parachute became stuck in the bomb bay. By the time he bailed out and pulled the rip cord for the parachute, the plane was on the ground burning. The other crew members landed after he did. He helped the most injured crew member who died in his arms. The second gunner was taken to a local hospital, where he died. The rest of the crew were taken to Bucharest to be held in a school there. His time as a POW influenced him for the rest of his life, and he was very open to sharing his experiences.

Being shot down on May 5, 1944, returning from a bombing raid over Ploesti, Romania was a frightening time. He had to get several severely injured crew members out of the back of the plane after he told the pilot to bail out the front. In trying to access the back of the plane by way of the catwalk above the bomb bay doors, he was caught by his seat parachute. After freeing himself, he helped the injured gunners with their parachutes and bailout; they were aware enough that he got confirmation that they could pull the chute cord on their own. He was the last man out. When he pulled the cord for his chute and landed (he told me that he swung back and forth on the chute two or three times, then hit the ground), he saw the plane in flames on the ground and his crew floating down on their own chutes. They were not sure who would greet them, but it was a relief to see it was Romanian farmers. They were very kind, brought them water, and tried to help with Kelly and Eakins. Kelly, whose legs were severely shot, died shortly after landing. Eakins was taken to a local hospital and died the next day.

I think my dad would say that the most exciting and memorable thing he did was ferry the B-24 Scrappy to Italy from California, and it took them weeks, stopping at various countries.

Probably the least favorite would be learning to land the B-24.

Another least favorite moment would be getting a ‘gig’ for not polishing his shoes again for an unscheduled drill after polishing them for a canceled drill earlier. He had checked out to go to the post office, and when the unscheduled drill was called, he had to rush not to be late. The ‘gig’ was dropped.

Ken always disliked guns. As a child, he almost shot his cousin accidentally. When he was shot down, his crew that landed together were taken by wagon to the town. Someone gave him a pistol. He didn’t want it, especially at this time, so he threw it in a stream when they crossed it on a bridge.

It was becoming an officer and pilot.

After the War, he was told he was recommended for the Silver Star. It turned out that the government felt too many had already been given and were not awarding any more. He didn’t think much of it; he said when they were shot down, he only did what anyone would do in the same situation. Later in life, he wanted that award and wrote letters in pursuit of it, but it was not to be.

I believe his name is Woody Mark. He was a photographer. My dad hardly went anywhere without his camera, and he loved to take photos his whole life.

His Basic Flight Training Instructor was Lieutenant Chilton. He very much liked him. As a matter of fact, Ken contacted his son around 2009 and met him at an Air and Space Museum.

Princess Catherine Caradja of Romania was so thankful for the Americans who fought to free Romania. She was in contact with the POW groups and spoke at the Reunion in San Diego, Calif., in 1984.

Ken’s crew argued: they all said they would be the “last man standing.” Both Maurice Kelly and Archie Eakins died after bailing out of the plane after being shot down. I know he kept in touch with George Stauffer; in fact, he talked to him on the phone in 2016. George died in Nov. 2016. My father, Ken Barmore, was the ‘last man standing’! He didn’t pass away until 2020.

Whether this is funny depends on whose perspective from which it is told. After bringing their new B-24 to Italy, Ken’s bombardier, George Stauffer, was called out on a night mission with another crew in place of a sick crew member. In the morning, it was discovered that his plane had been hit and had landed in Corsica.

At that point, my dad and the rest of his crew divided up his things. Ken took and put on his flight jacket; the others did the same with his other belongings. When he finally arrived, they went down to operations and made believe that they had been told he was shot down and wouldn’t be back, so they divvied up this things!

He was so mad he didn’t talk to them for several days! My dad got a kick out of this story every time he told it!

Ken wanted to fly most of all. He joined United Air Lines as a pilot and flew for them for several years but was laid off. After his check flight, he was told he landed too low to the ground. He denied doing that. He checked with the air controller who was working then and was told he landed perfectly at the correct altitude. He went to a higher-up to contest the check pilot’s report but was told he would not be believed. Several months after that, the check pilot stood up in a pilot’s meeting and threw his hat on the table and said he had ‘had enough of this,’ and walked out. He resigned. I guess he was known for being a little like that.

Even though he was not a career pilot, he made and remained friends with many pilots, including Clay Lacy, with whom he had a very warm and lasting friendship.

Ken belonged to ‘The Association of Former Prisoners of War in Romania‘ and attended POW gatherings over the years. He never forgot Princess Catherine Caradja of Romania, who was so grateful to the US for its part in helping Romania during WWII.

He was a member of the Air Force Association.

Throughout his life, he was very meticulous and organized in his business, recreational and personal life. He kept many correspondences and documents related to his interests, friends, and hobbies.

I am thankful for the opportunity to share what I know about my father’s service and life.