Herbert "Ken" Barker was a native of New South Wales, posted from No 5 Recruit Pool Depot.
He served in England with No 32 Squadron in December 1941 and January 1942, before serving with No 129 Squadron between January and May 1942, completing 32 sweeps and six combats with half a kill.
Commissioned in June 1942, he was posted to No 452 Squadron (RAAF) between August and December 1942, before joining No 457 Squadron in December 1942. By October 1943, he had accumulated 505 hours total flying time.
He was involved in a landing accident on the 19th of October, 1943.
Posted to No 55 Operational Base Unit at the end of the war, Ken was discharged from the RAAF in June 1945 as surplus to personnel requirements.
Livingstone, NT. February 1943. Group portrait of ground staff personnel of No. 457 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF in front of one of the squadron's Supermarine Spitfire aircraft code-name 'Capstan'
Labuan Island, Borneo. 1945. Side view of the 'Grey Nurse' (ZP-Y A58-67), a MK 8 Spitfire aircraft of No. 457 Squadron RAAF in flight over the sea. It is being flown by Flying Officer Fred Inger. Note the shark's jaw painted on the front of the aircraft. (Donor F. Cassidy)
Three of 129 Squadron's pilots pose for the camera with a Spitfire Mk 1A.
The photo is of some of the pilots in the Squadron when it was based in Livingstone in October 1943. Back row: Flying Officer Brian F. Hegarty, Flight Sergeant R.J.K. "Jim" Thompson, Warrant Officer C.R. "Roy" Briggs, Flying Officer W.J. "Jack" Halse, Pilot Officer Allan C. Beckwith, Flying Officer S.W. "Bill" Reilly, Flying Officer Ian Chandler. Second back row: Flying Officer Ian S. Mackenzie, Flying Officer H. Ken Barker, Pilot Officer W.J. "Bill" Basey, Flying Officer South Creagh, Flying Officer Larry Alderson (Defence Officer), Flight Sergeant T.F.R. "Frank" Payne, Flying Officer Neil C. Ligertwood, Squadron Leader "Pat" Egan (Dental Officer), Flying Officer L.G. "Lock" Munro, Warrant Officer C.V. "Vin" Madigan, Flying Officer P.E. "Phil" Goldin (Intelligence Officer) Second front row: Flight Lieutenant D.R. "Doug" Edwards, Flight Lieutenant Wally Aldford (Adjutant), Flight Lieutenant Peter H. Watson DFC (OC A Flight), Squadron Leader K.E. "Ken" James (Commanding Officer), Flight Lieutenant D.H. "Don" Maclean (OC B Flight), Squadron Leader D.L. "Des" Peate (Medical Officer), Flight Lieutenant John S. Newton. Front Row: Sergeant Trevor R. Russell, Pilot Officer F. "Freddie" Feuerhardt, Flight Sergeant W.S. "Bill" Hardwick, Spitty, Pilot Officer A. Evan Batchelor, Sergeant G. "Mac" Jude, Flight Sergeant Harry Whiting.
