Colonel Rex T. Barber
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) P-38 Lightning pilot and ace
Background
Rex Theodore Barber was born May 6, 1917 in Culver, Jefferson County, Oregon. He completed three years of college and worked as a surveyor.
Wartime History
On September 30, 1940 enlisted in the U.S. Army with serial number 19014932 for the Panama Canal Department. Later, selected for flight training as an aviation cadet, he earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-429902.
Promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant he was sent overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC) and assigned to the 70th Fighter Squadron (70th FS) at Nadi Airfield in Fiji flying the P-39 Airacobra then began flying combat missions from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. His personal aircraft was P-39D "Diablo". Later, assigned to 339th Fighter Squadron (339th FS) flying the P-38 Lightning and assigned P-38G "Barbara Ann IV" 43-2187 Nose 125.
Shortland Island Fighter Sweep
On March 29, 1943 took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum) on Guadalcanal piloting P-38G "Daisy 2nd" Nose 125 on a joint-service mission led by Captain Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. as one of eight P-38Gs plus eight F4U Corsairs from Marine Fighting Squadron 124 (VMF-124) on a fighter sweep and strafing mission against Shortland Harbor.
Due to poor weather and difficulty in rendezvousing, only five P-38s (P-38G pilot Captain Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr., P-38G "Daisy 2nd" Nose 125 pilot 1st Lt. Rex T. Barber, P-38G "Miss Virginia" 43-2264 pilot Captain Robert Petit, P-38G pilot 1st Lt. George Topoll and P-38G pilot 1st Lt. Joseph Moore and one F4U Corsair pilot 1st Lt. Eben Dale reach the target. At dawn, they strafe Shortland Harbor Seaplane Base and set fire to 5-7 F1M2 Pete floatplanes. Other
damage reports state they claimed 8 aircraft destroyed.
Departing, they spot a "destroyer" [sic Subchaser CH-28] east of Shortland Island and make repeated strafing runs and claim to leave the warship on fire with a 15° list. During the strafing run, Barber accidentally collided with the mast that damaged the left outer wing at the edge of the U.S. Star insignia. Despite the damage, Barber was able to maintain control and landed safely. Afterwards, Barber and other pilots were photographed with the damaged wing tip. For this mission, Barber earned an oak leaf cluster to his Silver Star.
Yamamoto Mission
On April 18, 1943 took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum) on Guadalcanal piloting P-38G "Miss Virginia"43-2264 Nose 147 on the "Yamamoto Mission". Over southern Bougainville, Barber shot down G4M1 Betty 2656 Tail 323 with Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Afterwards, he joined two others P-38G 42-12690 Nose 100 pilot 1st Lt Besby T. Holmes and P-38G pilot 1st Lt. Raymond K. Hine and shot down G4M1 Betty Tail 326 with Vice-Admiral Matome Ugaki.
Officially, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) credited Captain Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. with 1 victory for a Zero [sic none were lost] and ½ victory for a Betty. 1st Lt. Rex T. Barber was credited with 1 victory Betty, ½ victory Betty and ½ victory Zero [sic none lost]. 1st Lt Besby T. Holmes was credited with 1 victory and ½ victory. In fact, only two bombers were shot down: G4M1 Betty 2656 Tail 323 with Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and G4M1 Betty Tail 326 with Vice-Admiral Matome Ugaki. No escorting Zeros were lost.
Postwar, a review of Japanese and American records plus veteran interviews and crash site investigation revealed
that Lanphier likely fired on G4M1 Betty Tail 326 and saw the crash of G4M1 Betty 2656 Tail 323 that was shot down by Barber. Despite evidence presented postwar, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) has never revised the official aerial victory claims for the "Yamamoto Mission".
China
On May 27, 1943 promoted to the rank of Captain and later returned to the United States. In late 1943, he requested to return to combat and was sent overseas to China and assigned to the 449th Fighter Squadron (449th FS) flying the P-38 Lightning. On April 29, 1944 shot down, injured but evaded capture then returned to duty July 7, 1944. In total, he flew twenty-nine missions in China.
On August 1, 1944 promoted to the rank of Major and returned to the United States for further medical treatment. During January 1945 became the Commanding Officer (C.O.) of the 412th Fighter Group (412th FG), 29th Fighter Squadron (29th FS) flying the P-59A and later P-80A.
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Aerial Victory Claim
Barber was officially credited with 5 aerial victories (4 plus two ½ credits) between December 24, 1942 to April 18, 1943.
Assigned Aircraft
Barber was assigned the following planes in the SoPAC:
P-39D "Diablo" assigned Barber 339th Fighter Squadron ultimate fate unknown.
P-38G "Barbara Ann IV" 43-2187 Nose 125 assigned Barber 339th Fighter Squadron.
Postwar
In July 1946 assigned to the 1st FG, 27th FS as C.O. flying the P-80A. On September 18, 1947 he became part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and later assigned to the 354th Fighter Wing (354th FW) as a material officer. During March 1961, retired with the rank of Colonel.
Awards
Barber earned the Navy Cross for the April 18, 1943 "Yamamoto Mission", Silver Star with oak leaf cluster for March 29, 1943, Air Medal and Purple Heart.
Memorials
Barber passed away July 26, 2001 at age 84 in Terrebonne, Oregon. He is buried at Redmond Memorial Cemetery in Redmond, OR at section L, plot 548. His grave has a pair of P-38 Lightnings on the top and the epitaph reads: "Husband, father, grandfather, friend".
Relatives
1st Lt. Charles Cobb Lanphier (brother, pilot F4U Corsair 02577 crashed August 28, 1943 POW died May 15, 1944)
James Lanphier (brother died 1969)
References
World War II Army Enlistment Records - Rex T. Barber
USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II [PDF] Lanphier Thomas G Jr. page 111 (PDF page 118), 339 FTR SQ 608 (PDF page 612), 70 FTR SQ page 365 (PDF page 569)
The Hall of Valor Project - Rex Theodore Barber - Naval Cross citation
"Navy Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Rex Theodore Barber (ASN: 0-429902), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Pilot of a P-38 fighter airplane in the 339th Fighter Squadron, 37th Fighter Group, THIRTEENTH Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces, attached to a Marine Fighter Command in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands on 18 April 1943. Participating in a dangerously long interception flight, First Lieutenant Barber contacted a formation of two enemy bombers escorted by six fighters in a complete surprise approach. Quickly engaging the enemy, he pressed his tactical advantage and struck fiercely, destroying one Japanese bomber at such close range that fragments from the explosion lodged in the wings of his plane, and shooting down the escorting enemy fighter plane which had been attempting to divert the attack. His brilliant airmanship and determined fighting spirit throughout a daring and vital mission were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Armed Services."
The Hall of Valor Project - Rex Theodore Barber - Silver Star citation
"Rex Theodore Barber (ASN: 0-429902), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a Fighter Pilot His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army Air Forces"
The Hall of Valor Project - Rex Theodore Barber - Silver Star oak leaf cluster citation
"First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Rex Theodore Barber (ASN: 0-429902), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a Fighter Pilot His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army Air Forces."
FindAGrave - Rex T. Barber (photo, grave photos)
Stars & Bars (1995) pages 27-28 (18th FG, 70th FS), 50-51 (347th FG, 339th FS), 130 (Barber)
13th Fighter Command in World War II (2004) Chapter 5 Mission To The Shortlands by James F. Lansdale pages 123-125 (March 29, 1943), Chapter 8 - Yamamoto Mission by James F. Lansdale pages 137-162, 312 (April 18, 1943 profile), 328 (index Barber)
The Oregonian "Historian says Oregonian Rex Barber shot down Yamamoto in World War II" April 18, 2013
"To Rex Barber it mattered little who was aboard the Betty that he shot down over the jungle on Bougainville ... but whoever was on it, he was certain that he alone downed that plane."
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