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

Rex T. Barber (May 6, 1917 - July 26, 2001) was a World War II fighter pilot. He was best known as a member of the top secret P-38 Lightning mission to intercept Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who was flying in a "Betty" bomber on an inspection tour of Japanese bases in the Solomon Islands. Barber is credited with the sole kill of Yamamoto by military historians, but officially he and Captain Thomas George Lanphier, Jr. were credited with half a kill each when Yamamoto's bomber was shot down in April of 1943. In 2003, however, Barber 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. Barber was awarded the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, a Purple Heart and numerous other awards over his military career.

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 Terrbonne, Oregon. His son, Rex Jr., is quoted as saying that his "afterburner just flamed out on him."

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 governor and the legislature also concluded, based on recent evidence, that Barber should be given 100 percent credit for shooting down Yamamoto. The new bridge, plaque and kiosk honoring Barber were dedicated on August 9, 2003 at Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint.

Still Waits for Medal of Honor

Barber's supporters nearly 65 years later, he deserves the Congressional Medal of Honor for the Yamamoto Mission.

References

Get Yamamoto Burke Davis 1969.
Lighting Over Bougainville R. Cargill Hall 1991
Lighting Strike Donald A. Davis 2005

External links

Text of Oregon Joint Resolution 38 (2003) honoring Barber from the Oregon Legislative Assembly

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 [[Image:Barber cross.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Rex Barber is awarded the [[Navy Cross]] for his actions during the mission that killed Yamamoto.]]
-'''Rex T. Barber'''  ([[May 6]], [[1917]] [[July 26]], [[2001]]) was a [[World War II]] fighter pilot. He was best known as a member of the top secret [[P-38 Lightning]] mission to intercept Admiral [[Isoroku Yamamoto]], who was flying in a [[Mitsubishi G4M|"Betty"]] bomber on an inspection tour of Japanese bases in the [[Solomon Islands]].  Barber is credited with the sole kill of Yamamoto by military historians, but officially he and Captain [[Thomas George Lanphier, Jr.]] were credited with half a kill each when Yamamoto's bomber was shot down in April of 1943. In 2003, however, Barber 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. Barber was awarded the [[Navy Cross]], two [[Silver Star]]s, a [[Purple Heart]] and numerous other awards over his military career.
+'''Rex T. Barber'''  ([[May 6]], [[1917]] - [[July 26]], [[2001]]) was a [[World War II]] fighter pilot. He was best known as a member of the top secret [[P-38 Lightning]] mission to intercept Admiral [[Isoroku Yamamoto]], who was flying in a [[Mitsubishi G4M|"Betty"]] bomber on an inspection tour of Japanese bases in the [[Solomon Islands]].  Barber is credited with the sole kill of Yamamoto by military historians, but officially he and Captain [[Thomas George Lanphier, Jr.]] were credited with half a kill each when Yamamoto's bomber was shot down in April of 1943. In 2003, however, Barber 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. Barber was awarded the [[Navy Cross]], two [[Silver Star]]s, a [[Purple Heart]] and numerous other awards over his military career.
 ==Personal life==