James Edgar Barton was trained in Canada under the Empire Training Scheme and joined 245 Squadron, RAF in time to take part in the raid on Dieppe on the French coast. He was one of ten pilots who took off in their Hawker Hurricanes for a preparatory attack on German forces. The response from flak and fighters was strong. Three Hurricanes failed to return and only one of those who did was serviceable. It is believed that James Edgar Barton was shot down by ground fire. His body was not recovered which suggests that he crashed at sea.
James Henry Barton was also trained in Canada and was one of the crew of a 626 Squadron Lancaster which was shot down over Holland by a German night fighter while returning from a bombing raid on rail yards. James was initially reported missing, later reported "presumed dead."
Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.
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