BRAVE MOTHERS

Opunake Times, 24 October 1941, Page 4

BRAVE MOTHERS

THE FLYING BARNWELLS . THREE SONS KILLED The story of the death of the third son of the designer of the Blenheim and Beaufort aircraft, who himself was killed . a few years ago while testing- his new aircraft, was told by the Air Ministery news service in a cablegram from Loudon published in the Herald recently. Barnwelf was awarded the D.F.C. a month ago after he had shot down two Italian three-engined bombers in one night over Malta. One of his brothers was killed with a bomber squadron, and the other while flying night fighters. The story of the family’s magnificent record was told by Basil Gardew in a London newspaper at the time David Batjtnwell Avon the D.F.C. And now David has given his life for his country, too. The last of the Firing Barnwells has won the D.F.C.—PilotOfficer David Usher Barnwell, son of the designer of the Blenheim and Beaufort bombers. Lnst night, from her home in Bristol—close to the aircraft works where be Imsbaiid designed hi? aeroplanes—Mrs. Bainwell told me of her two other sons, who in the ftir, nll rf. of the third bnv. who carries on the family traditions. ■ In one week-end over Malta he shot down four Italian aeroplanes. It is for that he has been awarded bis decoration. Raid Mrs. Barnwell: '“I have only •David now. lam so mound of hnn. T am so nrnud of them all. Built Machine for Sons Her husband. Captain Frank i Sowter Barnwell, designed not only the Blenheim and the Beaufort k”t also the Bristol fighter, which fought in Tn this war move Poval A*r Eorce pilots have flown in Blenheim* 3 against the enemy than in any other aefoplane. Captain Barnwell crashed in ]ooß He was killed in an aeroplane he had built for his sons, nowered bv a tiny 28 h.n. engine. It was built for economy: his l,ovs had found it too expensive to learn in the usual way. “M'* three sons,” said Mrs. Darn well. ‘Book after their father. All four of them talked about nothing but tTie air. That was ab 1 beard in the home. We have alwavs lived on the edge ot an airfield. , “Mv eldest. Richard Anthony. ~-eni from Bristol TJniverraty in t„ Hie TJ.A.F. in 1938. He was... flying in a bomber squadron when be was killed Shot Down a Hemkei “John Sandes. our middle son. went to Can well. RAF. school and when be ioined the H.A.i • he niloted nisrllt fisjliters. Hew reixuted missing m Juiu .- ■ • “Before be died, be bad shot down a Heinkel 111. John was a scholarly boy: be got the Kind’s Medal at CranwelL 1 think be bad the greatest flying brain of them all. .. A “David worked at .Filton awfield Bristol, where his father hod worked. He was only 1» when he finished his training m the R.A.F. and went to Malta. “He has not much time to write to me but be never fails to send a cablegram every week. He cannot afford many words, but he always makes them bright, and he ends bv saying, ‘l’m ino- a wizard time.’ “Although I do not like flying, v 1 have l always felt that my life is dedicated to it. My husband and my three sons seemed to be. part of it. “I do not think T would have had it otherwise. It was their iob.”