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Canadian WWI flying ace William "Billy" Barker killed...
Canadian WWI flying ace William "Billy" Barker killed...
Item # 721487
March 13, 1930
CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, March 13, 1930
* William "Billy" George Barker killed
* Canadian World War I - WWI fighter ace
* Airplane pilot - Canada aviator w/ photo
The top of page 5 has a one column heading: "AIR CRASH KILLS FLYER WHO SHOT DOWN 52 PLANES" with subhead and photo. (see images)
Complete with all 40 pages, rag edition in very nice condition. A few small binding holes along the spine.
background: William George “Billy” Barker, Canada’s most highly decorated First World War aviator, died on 12 March 1930 in a tragic flying accident near Rockcliffe Aerodrome, Ontario, at the age of 35. After earning fame as a Royal Flying Corps and later Royal Canadian Air Force ace, Barker continued in aviation and held a position with the Canadian branch of an aircraft company. On that day, he was demonstrating a Fairchild KR‑21 trainer when the plane stalled at the top of a loop and crashed, leaving him no time to recover. His death shocked the nation, and his funeral in Toronto drew massive crowds, with estimates of over 50,000 people lining the streets to pay their respects. Barker was interred at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, and his passing marked a significant loss to Canadian aviation, as he had been a prominent advocate for the development of both military and civil aviation in the country.
Category: The 20th Century
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