More detail on this person: Colonel Edd Griffin Barnes passed away peacefully at his home on 21 August 2024 at the age of 91. He was born and raised in Estill, South Carolina, the youngest child of Wallace and Natalie (Peeples) Barnes. He was fun-loving and industrious_working from a young age as a newspaper delivery boy, grocery store worker, butcher and truck driver but his dream was to be a pilot. After graduation from Estill High School he went to Newberry College on a baseball scholarship earning his Bachelor of Science degree in three years. His dream to become a pilot became a reality in the United States Air Force. Upon completion of the USAF course in Fighter Pilotage (Single Engine Jet) he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and awarded pilot wings at Williams Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona in 1955. Colonel Barnes' first assignment after pilot training was Craig AFB, Alabama where he completed Pilot Instructor Training and he was then assigned to Sheppard AFB, Texas as an Instructor Pilot in the Air Force Senior Officer Jet Indoctrination Program (T-33A). After leaving Sheppard in 1958, he soloed in the F-86L aircraft at Moody AFB, Georgia and completed the USAF Survival School at Stead AFB, Nevada in preparation for his assignment to Naha Air Base, Okinawa. As a member of the 25th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Wing, at Naha AB he participated in deployments to the Philippine Islands, Republic of Korea, Japan and Republic of China. During this tour he flew the Chinese F-86F and F-104C. He was awarded Chinese Pilot Wings for instructing the initial cadre of Chinese pilots in F-86D all weather tactics. He was promoted to Captain in 1960. Upon completion of his tour of duty in the Pacific Area, Colonel Barnes was assigned to Randolph AFB, Texas where he flew the T-38A and assumed duties as Chief, Training Materials and Evaluation Branch and Instructor Pilot in the Pilot Instructor Courses (T-33A/T-38A). Colonel Barnes departed Randolph AFB in 1966 for Williams AFB, Arizona where he transitioned into the F-5A/B aircraft. He was promoted to Major while at Williams AFB and was subsequently assigned to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, 10th Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam flying the F-5C. He flew 242 combat missions while serving as Flight Commander and Assistant Operations Officer. After returning from Vietnam in June 1967, he was assigned to the United States Air Force Academy where he served for three years as Commander, 28th Cadet Squadron and Deputy Commander for the Second and Third Cadet Groups. In July 1970, Colonel Barnes returned to Sheppard AFB, Texas for training in the UH-1F helicopter before traveling to Hunter Army Air Field, Georgia for UH-1D/H helicopter training and Jungle Survival School at Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines. He then served as Advisor to the 72nd Combat Group Commander at Pleiku Air Base, Republic of Vietnam until September 1971. During this assignment he flew 218 combat missions in the UH-1H, AH-1G. O-1 and A-1 aircraft and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. From October 1971 until October 1972, Colonel Barnes was Operations Officer for the First Composite Wing, Andrew AFB, Maryland before transferring to Headquarters Command Headquarters, Bolling AFB, District of Columbia where he served as Operations Training Officer and Assistant for Social Actions from November 1972 to February 1974. He flew the T-39A aircraft while in the DC area. Colonel Barnes was promoted to the grade of Colonel in March 1974 and subsequently held assignments as Senior Military Advisor for Southern Taiwan and Commander, Tainan Air Base, Republic of China where he flew the F4-D. Upon return from overseas, Colonel Barnes was assigned as Base Inspector (IG), Lackland AFB, Texas; Assistant for Social Actions, Headquarters Air Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas; and Director of Personnel, Keesler AFB, Mississippi. He retired from active duty in September 1980. Colonel Barnes is a graduate of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He was selected to appear in the 1969 edition of Outstanding Young Men of America, and in 1970 as a Distinguished Personality of the West and Midwest. In 1971 he was listed in the National Register of Prominent Americans and, in 1972, the Dictionary of International Biography. He received 51 military awards and decorations and accumulated over 4500 flying hours mostly in jet fighter and fighter type aircraft. After retirement from the Air Force, Edd "went back to school and learned how to build new houses and fix broken ones. After Linda's retirement from the Air Force in 1993, Edd enjoyed traveling the world and spending summers on Oneida Lake in upstate New York State. Colonel Barnes is survived by his wife, Lieutenant Colonel Linda B. Barnes, USAF, Retired; three children: Luanne Barnes Stauffer (Jeff) from Pennsburg PA, Charles William Barnes from Ladson SC and Ashley Margilynn Barnes Blogin (Curtis) currently residing in Isla Mujeres, Mexico; daughter-in-law: Tamara Hughes Barnes from Conway SC; four grandchildren: Ryan Charles Stauffer (Jennie), Brandon Robert Stauffer (Claire), Randall Edward Stauffer (Ali) and Romie Barnes Hancock (Rodney); and six great grandchildren: Brynn, Boden, Hazel, Hayden, Josephine and Theodore. He was predeceased by his daughter, Margaret Ann, his son Edd Griffin Barnes, Jr and his three siblings: Wallace Barnes, Charles Barnes and Louise Barnes Stone. Graveside services will be held at Hillside Cemetery, Central Square NY during the summer of 2025.
Burial information: Hillside Cemetery
This information was last updated 11/06/2024
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Date posted on this site: 01/11/2025
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