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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 Tour, Returned to USA
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 EdgarPilotCT
2nd Lt. Maahs, Robert EdwardCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Kobes, Eugene PaulNavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Barber, Ruffin FrankBombardierCT
S/SGT. Blocksidge, Charles RussellRadio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. O'Cain, Billy EklundEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Reedy, Delbert RudolphBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Smith, William Henry, JrTail GunnerCT
SGT. Bratko, John (NMI)Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Rubinson, Harold DavidFlexible 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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