Burrall J. Barnum, aged 29, was born on October 17, 1913 in New York County (Manhattan), New York. Captain Barnum served in the Air Corps on September 7, 1940. He received his wings at Maxwell Field, Alabama in April 1941 and was later stationed at Mitchel Field, L.I., and Sikorski Field in Connecticut. He was sent to China in May 1943 in charge of the first group of Army pilots who were to relieve the American Volunteer Group under Major Gen. Claire Chenault. His exploits against the Japanese brought him several citations and recommendation for the Air Medal.

Barnum was killed in an air battle on April 1, 1943 with which American fighters shot down five and probably destroyed two of nine planes attempting to attack an advanced airdrome. He is now buried in the Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York, USA.

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

Source of information: www.findagrave.com