Sherman Barnhill was born on August 9, 1923, in Hurdland, Knox County, Missouri. He was the son of Sherman Stephen Barnhill and Grace Geneva Patton Barnhill. He was married to Dorothy E Barnhill. He served in the 716th Bomber Squadron, 449th Bomber Group, as a Staff Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner of B-24J #42-64462 nicknamed “Stinky the B.T.O.” during World War II.

On February 22, 1944, the B-24J “Stinky the B.T.O.” joined the Regensburg mission during “Big Week.” On the return flight, the bomber was struck by flak and attacked by fighters before exploding in mid-air. It crashed near Wenigzell, Styria, Austria, resulting in the deaths of three crew members, while the remaining seven were captured and spent the rest of the war as prisoners of war.

SSgt Barnhill was captured and imprisoned at Stalag Luft IV, Gross-Tychow, Pomerania, Prussia. He died on February 14, 1988, and is now buried in the Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, City and County of Denver, Colorado, USA.

Source of information: 449th.com