RAF World War Two hero who defended Britain from Hitler’s doodlebugs and was one of the first jet pilots dies aged 95
Hero Dennis Barry was involved in D-Day landings & is believed to have been last surviving wartime Gloster Meteor pilot
ONE OF Britain’s first jet pilots, who was involved in the D-Day landings and helped defend Britain from Hitler’s flying bombs, has died aged 95.
Squadron Leader Dennis Barry was second in command of 616 South Yorkshire Squadron and is believed to have been the last surviving wartime Gloster Meteor pilot.
The Meteors were Britain’s first jet fighters, and played a pivotal role by shooting down German V-1 flying bombs, which were nicknamed doodlebugs or buzz bombs due to the ominous drone sound they emitted.
Barry was born in London on August 26 in 1921, and moved to Sheffield as a young boy, before joining the RAF in October 1940, aged just 19.
He initially flew Hurricanes and Spitfires, and his skill and daring nature propelled him up the ranks to become a squadron leader – the second highest position within the 616 Squadron.
He went on to lead offensive patrols over the north of France in the lead up to D-Day, in June 1944, before training to fly Meteors.
His squadron led numerous attacks on airfields, road and rail traffic as the Allied troops made their way through Europe.
His wartime exploits earned him the Croix de Guerre with Palme, a French military honour awarded for acts of heroism.
After he was demobbed in May 1946, Barry married his wife Brenda a year later, before joining the 616 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force at RAF Finningley.
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He spent three years in the RAAF, during which he earned the distinction of being the only pilot to bale out of a Meteor without the use of an ejector seat and live to tell the tale.
When both engines failed during a flight from Finningley, he daringly leapt from the cockpit at 1,500 feet and landed in a field, shattering his leg on the frozen ground.
The episode earned him entry to the exclusive Caterpillar Club, reserved for those select few pilots who have baled out of stricken planes in parachutes and survived.
Mr Barry quit the RAAF in 1951 to start his own business, selling luxury cars in Sheffield until he retired.
He had two children, two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Speaking on his dad, son Peter said: "Dad was one of the first jet pilots.
“They were pioneers and I'm very proud of what he did. It must have been a frightening life as a fighter pilot but also an exciting one, and I think they enjoyed what they were doing.”
Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork, who was former commanding officer of RAF Finningley added: "Dennis was very loyal to the squadron and to his friends, he laughed very easily and was a truly nice bloke who was very modest as were so many of that generation.”
A service in Barry’s honour will be held at Sheffield's Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium on Saturday, April 1, at 11.15am.
His family has asked for donations to be made to the .
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