Rex T. Barber

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Rex Barber is awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the mission that killed Yamamoto.

Rex T. Barber (May 06, 1917 - July 26, 2001) was a World War II fighter pilot. He was best known as a member of the top secret mission to intercept Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto in April 1943.

Barber received his Army wings and commission on October 31, 1941. He joined the 70th Pursuit Squadron, which arrived at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, in December 1942. Flying a Bell P-39, he scored his first victory by downing a Japanese bomber on the 28th. Upon transfer to the 339th Squadron he began flying P-38 Lightnings and claimed two Zero fighters on April 7.

On April 18 Lieutenant Barber figured prominently in the Yamamoto interception. Intelligence sources had learned that Yamamoto would be flying in a "Betty" bomber on an inspection tour of Japanese bases in the northern Solomons. Most military historians credit Barber with the sole kill of Yamamoto's aircraft. Previously he and Captain Thomas George Lanphier, Jr. were credited with half a kill each in Yamamoto's bomber. Barber also shared a second Betty destroyed on the same mission. In 2003 he was officially credited with the sole kill after an inspection analyzed the crash site and determined the path of the bullet impacts, thereby validating Barber's account and invalidating Lanphier's claim.

After returning to the U.S. in June 1943 then-Captain Barber requested a return to combat. Late that year he joined the 449th Fighter Squadron in China, still flying P-38s. He claimed three further Japanese planes probably destroyed and damged but was shot down on his 139th mission, bailing out near Kiukiang on April 29. He was rescued by Chinese civilians who treated his injuries and escorted him to safety five weeks later. At the end of the war he was a major commanding one of America's first jet squadrons. He retired as a colonel in 1961.

Barber was awarded the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, a Purple Heart,an Air Medal and numerous other awards over his military career including the Veterans of Foreign Wars Gold Medal of Merit.

1 Personal life
2 60th anniversary of the Yamamoto shootdown
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Personal life

Barber was born and raised in Culver, Oregon, and returned there after he retired from a distinguished military career.

He was a student at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon for a period of time, before being drafted. Upon his military discharge, he returned to Culver and resided there for the next forty years. He worked as an insurance agent and, at different times, served the city of Culver as mayor and judge.

He was a strong supporter of Little League Baseball and often helped out local youth.[1][2] He was actively involved in service organizations until his death at Terrebonne, Oregon. His son, Rex Jr., is quoted as saying that his "afterburner just flamed out on him."

[edit] 60th anniversary of the Yamamoto shootdown

On April 18, 2003, Governor Ted Kulongoski proclaimed the day "Rex T. Barber Day." The previous week, the Oregon State Legislature had declared that the new bridge on U.S. Highway 97 over the Crooked River was to be named the Rex T. Barber Veterans Memorial Bridge in his honor. (This bridge replaced the Crooked River High Bridge.)

The U.S. government has, based on recent evidence, given Barber 100 percent credit for shooting down Yamamoto. The Yamamoto Mission Association has started a private bill to have Barber awarded the Medal of Honor for shooting down Yamamoto^[1]. The new bridge, plaque and kiosk honoring Barber were dedicated on August 09, 2003 at Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint.