WWII pilot remembered at Tyrone field crash site

At the entrance of a quiet field in County Tyrone, a newly erected memorial stone pays tribute to the life of an American World War Two pilot who lost his life on a nearby hillside.

Exactly 80 years ago this week, Lieutenant Fred A Barton’s plane crashed into the farmland close to Aughnacloy.

It was the 21-year-old’s final flight before he was due to return home the next day to his wife and newborn son – a child he would never meet.

On 1 July 1945 the US Air Force pilot’s plane crashed into a field close to the townland of Eskragh.

The Georgia-born pilot had completed 35 missions during World War II and following the end of the war had been working as a test pilot based out of a US army encampment in County Antrim.

The cause of the crash was deemed unknown but local reports at the time said parts of the exploded plane covered a distance of half a square mile across the Tyrone countryside.

Lt Barton was initially buried in Belfast before his remains were exhumed and transferred to a cemetery in his home of Atlanta, Georgia.

This week, to mark the 80th anniversary of his death, a group of local history enthusiasts from County Tyrone organised a memorial at the entrance of the field near the crash site.

Local man Trevor Lockhart worked closely with Lt Barton’s family members.

Mr Lockhart said: “This young pilot lost his life in a field just over that hill, it was a story that was known locally, but we wanted to put in a permanent memorial.

“The idea really started last year when some members of Lt Barton’s family came to visit this site, so with their permission, and with the help of the local historical society, we took the idea of a memorial forward.”

Earlier this week a short act of remembrance was accompanied by music provided by a local piper.

Members of Lt Barton’s family were unable to attend the event in person , but some were able to video call and watch it remotely.

This included Lt Barton’s great-niece, Neely Stansell-Simpson, who lives in the American state of Georgia.

Speaking to BBC News NI, she said: “The service was lovely and our family was so moved by it.

“There is also something so profound to me about connecting with a community so far from the place I live, who has so lovingly and tenderly kept the memory of my great-uncle alive.”

Last October Lt Barton’s nephew, Greg Norton, travelled to visit the crash site with his wife.

Greg has sadly since passed away, but his wife Elaine was able to watch the memorial service through a video call.

She said: “It was very emotional for lots of reasons, and I know Greg would have been astounded when it was clear how many local people had turned out for the dedication, it means a lot to the family.”

Speaking at the memorial event, County Tyrone historian Jonathan Gray reflected on the crash.

He said: “A local man who witnessed the crash that Sunday morning, told me that the aircraft did not sound right, perhaps he had heard the results of engine failure.

“Either way it’s right we’re honouring his life, his service and the ripple effects his loss had on his family and friends.”

A few lines of a letter from Fred’s boyhood friend, H R Hawkins, were also read out.

The letter said: “Mother has just notified me about the Lord taking my best pal. He must have had a reason but it is hard to believe that Fred won’t be there when I get back. Fred has always been the best buddy I ever had.

“The only satisfaction I get is knowing that Fred was a wonderful person and I know that where he has gone there will be no dark days just as we have had since entering the war.

“We will never forget him and it is a wonderful thing that there is a Little Fred to take his place. I will certainly love that baby.”

Fred Barton is one of a number of WWII pilots who died as a result of aircraft crashes in Northern Ireland.

This was largely due to the fact that there was a high concentration of airfields and training operations.

One of the most well known cases was that of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress that crashed on Cave Hill in Belfast, resulting in the deaths of 10 crew members.

Trevor Lockhart says it is fitting the crash site of Lt Barton’s plane has now been formally marked and recognised.

He said: “It’s important to remember this young man, for his important service and he paid the ultimate sacrifice for that service.

“So now we have a spot for Lt Barton’s family and future generations to come and visit, to pay their respects to this young war hero.”