Barber, Ruffin Frank

Individual Personnel Data
Name Barber, Ruffin Frank
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-679326
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #145 dated 16 November 1943, effective 16 November 1943.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 546th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 26 May 1944 - 12th Replacement Control Depot, AAF Station Chorley, effective 23 May 1944.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 23 May 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 20 September 1918
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Childress AAF, Childress, Texas, Class #43-07, 13 May 1943.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty to Coombe House Hotel, Semley Dorsey (a Flak House) on or about 24 March 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #54 dated 21 March 1944.
  • Appointed First Lieutenant (AUS) effective 26 April 1944 per 546th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 2 May 1944.
Related Documents Wartime Press Releases⇓ (0.763 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Decker, Charles Edgar⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Maahs, Robert Edward⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Kobes, Eugene Paul⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Barber, Ruffin FrankBombardierCT
S/SGT. Blocksidge, Charles Russell⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. O'Cain, Billy Eklund⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Reedy, Delbert Rudolph⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Smith, William Henry, Jr⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Bratko, John (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Rubinson, Harold David⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 30 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
39⇗ 1 December 1943 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37848⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Waterbeach, Cambs.
Sortie Report⇗
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31045⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
43⇗ 16 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31045⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
50⇗ 5 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31045⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31045⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31045⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st A Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
59⇗ 5 February 1944 Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Orleans, France 		Bombardier 42‑31222⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Bombardier 42‑31045⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
62⇗ 11 February 1944 Target: Propeller Factory (Foundry)
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑30026⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 0919 hrs because of oxygen leakage in ball turret caused when a crew member stepped on and broke an electical conduit leading to ball turret.
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29632⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
66⇗ 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31058⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
67⇗ 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31375⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
69⇗ 2 March 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant and Machine Shop
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37776⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Lead group, low Squadron deputy. Turned back at 1123 hrs when a burst of flak hit #4 engine, causing the oil pressure to drop and necessitating the feathering of the engine; #1 & #3 superchargers failed, and #2 lagged excessively. Bombs jettisoned in a wooded area at 50°11'N,3°40'E (Occupied France).
Sortie Report⇗
70⇗ 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Forced to land immediately after takeoff because aircraft was losing fuel through a loose gas cap. After the problem was corrected on the ground, took off again and joined formation for mission.
Sortie Report⇗
72⇗ 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31375⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Returned to base after group leader abandoned attempt to join assigned combat wing.
Sortie Report⇗
73⇗ 8 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31740⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
74⇗ 9 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31740⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
75⇗ 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Squadron deputy, low Squadron, composite high group, 41st composite combat wing.
Sortie Report⇗
76⇗ 18 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, lead group, 41st Combat Bombardment Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
77⇗ 19 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France 		Bombardier 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
86⇗ 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
89⇗ 13 April 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron lead; turned back at 1228 hrs (after entering enemy territory) because #3 engine was losing oil and the prop had to be feathered.
Sortie Report⇗
90⇗ 18 April 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
94⇗ 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
95⇗ 25 April 1944 Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Metz, France 		Bombardier 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
96⇗ 27 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Bombardier 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
98⇗ 29 April 1944 Target: Industrial District
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
99⇗ 1 May 1944 Target: Launch Site in Foret Nationale de Tournehem
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Foret Nationale de Tournehem, France 		Bombardier 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
101⇗ 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97139⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron lead, low group. Turned back due to crew illness;
Sortie Report⇗
104⇗ 9 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Thionville, France 		Bombardier 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
106⇗ 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
109⇗ 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
112⇗ 22 May 1944 Target: Warehouse District in the Dock Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97533⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing Lead. PFF aircraft and remainder of unidentified crew members supplied by 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report⇗

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