Nicky Barr

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Andrew William Barr
December 10, 1915 – June 12, 2006 (aged 90)
Image:AWM MEA1372 Nicky Barr.jpg
Andrew William "Nicky" Barr, c.1943.
Nickname "Nicky"
Place of birth Wellington, New Zealand
Place of death Gold Coast, Queensland
Allegiance Flag of Australia Australia
Service/branch RAAF
Years of service 1940–45
Rank Wing Commander
Unit No. 3 Squadron (1941–42)
No. 2 OTU (1944–45)
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Officer of the British Empire
Military Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar

Andrew William Barr OBE, MC, DFC & Bar (December 10, 1915 – June 12, 2006) better known as Nicky Barr, was a former member of the Australian national rugby union team and an air ace during World War II, with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Barr scored 12 kills, two probables and two damaged. All were scored while flying the P-40.

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[edit] Rugby player

Barr was born in Wellington, New Zealand. He grew up in Victoria playing Australian rules football. After school, he switched to rugby union, playing for Victoria as a flanker. In 1939, he was chosen for the Australian touring team, nicknamed "The Wallabies", for a tour of the United Kingdom. Barr was selected as a hooker, even though it was not his normal position. The tour was cancelled less than a day after the team arrived in the UK, due to the outbreak of World War II. Barr returned to Australia, joined the RAAF and captained the Queensland RAAF rugby union team in 1940 and 1941.

[edit] War service

In 1941, Barr was posted to North Africa where he served with No. 3 Squadron. He shot down 12.5 enemy aircraft in 12 months, becoming the unit's highest-scoring member. In one fortnight, Barr flew 20 sorties. He was made acting Squadron Leader and Commanding Officer of No. 3 Squadron in May 1942, following Bobby Gibbes' hospitalisation with a broken leg.[1][2][3]

Barr was shot down three times. On one occasion, he was helped by the Senussi people in Libya and returned to Allied lines.[4] After this he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the full citation was published in the London Gazette on 20 February 1942, and read:[5][6]

Air Ministry, 20th February, 1942.

ROYAL AIR FORCE.

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy: —

Distinguished Flying Cross.

Flying Officer Andrew BARR (Aus-774), Royal Australian Air Force, No. 3 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron.

This officer, who commenced operational flying in November, 1941, has displayed the greatest keenness and skill as a fighter pilot. In December, 1941, during a patrol over the Derna area, he shot down a Messerschmitt 110; the next day, in the same area, he destroyed a Messerschmitt 110 and a Junkers 88. One day in January, 1942, his squadron formed part of an escort to bomber aircraft operating over El Agheila. Enemy aircraft were encountered and, in the ensuing engagement, Flying Officer Barr attacked 2 Italian fighters, one of which he shot down. He then observed one of his fellow pilots, who had been shot down, waving to him from the ground but, when preparing to make a landing in an attempt to rescue him, Flying Officer Barr was attacked by 2 Messerschmitt 109s. Although the undercarriage of his aircraft was not fully retracted, he immediately manoeuvred to engage the attackers, only to find that his guns had jammed. Quickly rectifying the fault he delivered an accurate burst of fire which caused one of the Messerschmitts to disintegrate in the air. A further 2 enemy aircraft joined in the combat and Flying Officer Barr was wounded and forced down. While on the ground he was further wounded by the enemy's fire but, despite this, he made his way through the enemy's lines and rejoined our own forces some 3 days later. He brought back much valuable information regarding the disposition of enemy tanks and defences. Flying Officer Barr displayed the greatest courage and tenacity throughout. He has destroyed 8 enemy aircraft.

On 26 June 1942 Barr was shot down by two Bf 109s[7] and was captured by Italian soldiers and was taken as a prisoner to Italy, where he received hospital treatment. He was awarded a Bar to his DFC on 5 February 1943.[8][9]

I was not very proud of the things that I was called upon to do. Nonetheless, I accepted the fact that some people have to do the killing. But when you are recruited, it's not sold to you that way and you find out that after they teach you to fly they then teach you to kill. And, uh, I didn't like it at all, but I did it - that was my job.
Nicky Barr, Australian Story, 2002 [10]

He tried to escape four times. On the fourth occasion, he managed to link up with an Allied special operations unit, which was gathering intelligence behind enemy lines. He also helped people escape over the Apennine Mountains, along the so-called "Alpine Route". Barr eventually made it through this route himself. When he reached Allied lines, he was sent to a military hospital in Vasto, as he weighed only 55 kilograms, and was in poor health. This earned him the Military Cross on 1 December 1944.[11][12]

After his return to Australia in 1944, Barr was made acting Wing Commander and appointed Chief Instructor at No. 2 Operational Training Unit. He retired from the RAAF in October 1945.[1][2]

[edit] Post war

After the war, Barr returned to Australia and to his wife, Dorothy. They had been married only a few weeks when he joined the RAAF, and she had been told on three occasions that her husband was dead.[4]

Barr's injuries prevented him from returning to a rugby career but he became active in business and yachting. His post-war work led to his appointment in the 1983 New Year Honours as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), "for service to the oilseed industry".[1][13] He died in June 2006, a few months after his wife. Four F/A-18 Hornet jet fighters from No. 3 Squadron, overflew his funeral service on the Gold Coast, Queensland.[1]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Air Force News, 2006
  2. ^ a b Australian War Memorial, 2008
  3. ^ "Wg Cdr Bobby Gibbes", telegraph.co.uk, 25 April 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-20. 
  4. ^ a b The Age, 2002
  5. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35891, page 651, 2 February 1943. Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
  6. ^ Recommendation for Andrew William Barr to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Australian War Memorial.
  7. ^ Thomas 2005, p. 38.
  8. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35891, page 651, 2 February 1943. Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
  9. ^ Recommendation for Andrew William Barr to be awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross. Australian War Memorial.
  10. ^ ABC, 2002
  11. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36820, page 5515, 28 November 1944. Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
  12. ^ Recommendation for Andrew William Barr to be awarded the Military Cross. Australian War Memorial.
  13. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 49213, page 42, 30 December 1982. Retrieved on 2008-02-20.

[edit] References