Laurence Gene Barben was born on August 16, 1917, in Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas. He was the son of Charles G. Barben and Myrtle Eliza Bauer Barben. He served in the 703rd Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot of B-24 #42-51355 during World War II.

On September 27, 1944, B-24J Liberator serial number 42-51355 was shot down during a bombing mission over Germany and crashed near Krauthausen in the Eisenach area. The aircraft was participating in the American strategic air offensive against German industrial targets and encountered heavy enemy defenses while over hostile territory. The loss was officially recorded in Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 09393, which documented the aircraft’s destruction at approximately 10:01 a.m. local time; several members of the crew were killed in the crash. The incident occurred during one of the most hazardous phases of the air war over Germany, when bomber formations frequently sustained heavy losses from anti-aircraft fire and German fighter interception.

2Lt Barben was killed in action and is now laid to rest alongside his fellow crew members, SSgt Aaron, 2Lt Ajello, 2Lt Bolin, 2Lt Armstrong, Sgt Oleson, and Sgt Weatherly at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Lemay Township, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.445bg.org