Lawrence Lacey Barnett was born on April 5, 1919, in Lamoni, Iowa. He was the son of Lacey Lafayette Barnett and Marguerite Carlton Canaday Barnett. He was married to Mary Katherine Kabrick Newhouse.

Lawrence served in the 848th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Waist Gunner on the B-17 #43-38051 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on August 13, 1944, in Roydon, England, when his airplane crashed after a mid-air collision with B-17 #43-37618. The crash resulted in the death of 4 members of his crew; six survived and returned to duty, while the other airplane, has seven casualties.

Airmen who perished on B-17 #43-38051:
Bagnall, Kenneth T ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, NH
Barnett, Lawrence L ~ S/Sgt, Top Turret and Tail Gunner, MO
Pulli, Dominic A ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, PA
Rayberg, Milton ~ T/Sgt, Waist Gunner, MA

Source of information: www.findagrave.com