Veterans and members of the public lined the streets to attend the funeral of a WWII bomber pilot, who died with no surviving family.
Alfred ‘Barney’ Barnett died this month aged 104 in hospital without any relatives.
The former RAF pathfinder, from Bodmin, Cornwall, flew on around 80 missions during his time in the air force, in some of the most significant bombing raids of the war.
Fellow veterans across Cornwall were called to pay their respects at Alfred’s funeral, which was held this morning.
Bodmin’s Royal British Legion branch, which organised the funeral, invited veterans to attend wearing blazers, medals and headdresses – and a large crowd responded to honour Alfred’s achievements.
His coffin was draped in a Union Jack while standard bearers stood in respect as a hearse drove past.
Members of the public also turned out to pay their respects.
Specially selected pallbearers then carried him into the service where tributes were paid to his life.
Alfred ‘Barney’ Barnett (pictured) died this month, aged 104, in hospital without any relatives
The former RAF pathfinder (pictured), from Bodmin, Cornwall, flew on around 80 missions during his time in the air force
Fellow veterans from across Cornwall were called to pay their respects at Alfred’s funeral
Chairman of Bodmin branch Derek Coad had issued a rallying cry and wrote: ‘If you are a member of an association, please parade your Standard at the funeral.
‘This man deserves a send-off.’
Several military personnel responded and confirmed they would be attending.
Alfred had previously spoken about his wartime achievements and said he was a keen flyer who loved being in the air.
In an interview with the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC Digital Archive), taken on 11 August 2021, Alfred said he was determined to join the RAF and fight back after his mother’s house in Kent was destroyed during a Luftwaffe bombing.
He trained as a gunner on a Lancaster and completed two tours and a spell as an instructor.
He then flew Whitleys and Wellington bombers.
After his final tour of operations, he joined the British Bombing Survey and CSDIC (Combined Services Detailed Interrogations) based at Bad Nenndorf in Germany.
He took part in Operation Manna dropping food to the starving in the Netherlands and later he was at the Nuremberg trials.
Alfred said previously: ‘I was quite happy when I was flying away.
‘I was more nervous when I wasn’t flying than when I was flying.
Alfred said he was determined to join the RAF and fight back after his mother’s house in Kent was destroyed during a Luftwaffe bombing
His coffin was draped in a Union Jack while standard bearers stood in respect as a hearse drove past
(Pictured) The order of service at Alfred’s funeral at Glynn Valley Crematorium
‘I am no ruddy hero.
‘But there it is, all over now – I got seven bob a day for that!’
Alfred flew in some of the biggest bombing raids of WWII.
He previously told the BBC: ‘They may have say, 50 aircraft over a target and it’d all be over in 10 minutes.
‘Now Lancasters used to carry one or two, cookies, they are 4,000 pounders in the centre bay, with 1,000 pounders either side, or 2,000 pounders.
‘2,000 were usually APs, armour piercing.
‘Then outside that you’d have two pockets of what they call incendiaries.
‘That’s for lighting fires.
‘The biggest fire I ever saw was at Hamburg.
‘When you’re flying, I know this may sound strange, my leg used to start shaking and then when you got there you were very calm.
‘Amazing.’
Alfred’s funeral was held at 11.30am at Glynn Valley Crematorium on May 20.
