Leonard Barton by Maliky Wilson-Creed


Leonard Arthur. Barton Leading Aircraftman 18368 was born on the 13th of November 1910 in Rainbow, Victoria, Melbourne.

Leonard was the eldest of seven children.

Leonard’s father Arthur. John. Barton and his Mother Sophia. May. Wykes inherited a family business, who they then went on to build a Post office, a state school and many more buildings across the district of Rainbow.

Leonard married his wife Marjorie Stewart and they together had 3 children Betty, Robert, and Denis.

He worked as a motor mechanic and fitter for 10 years and even managed to own his own business for 6 years in Taverner street, Melbourne.

Leonard then enlisted in Melbourne on the 30th of August 1940.

First serving at the no.1 Aircraftman depot in Laverton he then was later transferred to the RAAF Headquarters in Darwin on the 16th of March 1941.

He was serving as a fitter in the Driver Motor Transport when the Royal Australian Air Force Base in Darwin was Air raided and bombed on the 19th of February 1942.

The only aerial defense for the Darwin base during the bombing was provided by a squadron of Kitty Hawks the 33rd Pursuit Squadron USAAF which all 4 pilots were killed.

Sadly all 7 Aircraftsman were killed in action on the RAAF Base station in Darwin including,

Leading Aircraftman 18368 Leonard. Arthur. Barton.

At the age of 31 years old.




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