Veterans and members of the public lined the streets to attend the funeral of Alfred 'Barney' Barnett, a World War II bomber pilot who died with no surviving family at the age of 104. The former RAF pathfinder, from Bodmin, Cornwall, passed away in hospital earlier this month without any relatives.
Alfred flew on approximately 80 missions during his time in the air force, participating in some of the most significant bombing raids of the war. Fellow veterans across Cornwall were called to pay their respects at his funeral, which was held on the morning of May 20 at Glynn Valley Crematorium.
Bodmin's Royal British Legion branch, which organised the funeral, invited veterans to attend wearing blazers, medals, and headdresses. A large crowd responded to honour Alfred's achievements. His coffin was draped in a Union Jack while standard bearers stood in respect as a hearse drove past. Members of the public also turned out to pay their respects.
Specially selected pallbearers carried him into the service, where tributes were paid to his life. Chairman of Bodmin branch Derek Coad had issued a rallying cry, writing: 'If you are a member of an association, please parade your Standard at the funeral. This man deserves a send-off.' Several military personnel responded and confirmed they would attend.
Alfred had previously spoken about his wartime achievements, describing himself as a keen flyer who loved being in the air. In an interview with the International Bomber Command Centre on August 11, 2021, he said he was determined to join the RAF and fight back after his mother's house in Kent was destroyed during a Luftwaffe bombing.
He trained as a gunner on a Lancaster and completed two tours and a spell as an instructor. He then flew Whitleys and Wellington bombers. After his final tour, he joined the British Bombing Survey and CSDIC based at Bad Nenndorf in Germany. He took part in Operation Manna, dropping food to the starving in the Netherlands, and later attended the Nuremberg trials.
Alfred said previously: 'I was quite happy when I was flying away. I was more nervous when I wasn't flying than when I was flying. I am no ruddy hero. But there it is, all over now - I got seven bob a day for that!'
He flew in some of the biggest bombing raids of WWII, once telling the BBC: 'They may have say, 50 aircraft over a target and it'd all be over in 10 minutes. Now Lancasters used to carry one or two, cookies, they are 4,000 pounders in the centre bay, with 1,000 pounders either side, or 2,000 pounders. 2,000 were usually APs, armour piercing. Then outside that you'd have two pockets of what they call incendiaries. That's for lighting fires. The biggest fire I ever saw was at Hamburg. When you're flying, I know this may sound strange, my leg used to start shaking and then when you got there you were very calm. Amazing.'
