Basil Barna, aged 26, was born on March 15, 1918 in Simpson, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. He resided in Bergen County, New Jersey prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on September 8, 1942 in Newark, New Jersey. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a inspector and also as Single, without dependents. Basil served as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier on B-24J #42-100249, 425th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24J #42-100249 took off from Kunming, China on a sea sweep combat mission. They never were heard or seen again and are believed to have crashed at sea. However it was noted as a battle casuality and mentioned that they could have been victims of anti-aircraft fire. The entire crew of 11 were lost. He was declared "Missing in Action" on May 20, 1944 and is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

Basil was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com