Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal group of six awarded to Major George Raymond Barker, U.S.A.F., a B-29 Superfortress pilot who flew ‘the Hump’ from India to China and the far East, attacking Japanese targets all over the far East; he then flew the long haul from Tinian Island in the Pacific on the first heavy bomber raid on Japan, completing 35 combat missions with 468th Bombardment Group, 8 of which were by night

United States of America, Distinguished Flying Cross, bronze, slot brooch; Air Medal, bronze, with oak leaf cluster emblem on riband, wrap brooch; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal 1941-45, bronze, with one silver and two bronze star emblems on riband, crimp brooch; Victory Medal 1945, bronze, crimp brooch; Philippines Liberation medal, bronze and enamel, crimp brooch; Presidential Unit Citation riband bar, very fine or better (6) £400-£500

George Raymond Barker was born on 18 May 1917, at Butte, Montana and enlisted into the U.S. Army as a Private on 3 August 1937. Discharged on 3 November 1940, he immediately re-enlisted as an Aviation Cadet. Promoted Sergeant, 3 November 1941 and Master Sergeant, 23 June 1942, he began flying training in February 1942, and by December he was piloting the B-17 heavy bomber. He was Honourably Discharged from training on 22 June 1942, and immediately commissioned wartime 2 Lieutenant. Promoted Lieutenant on 18 February 1943 and Captain, 3 April 1944, Barker was assigned to 795th Squadron, 468th Bomb Group (The Billy Mitchell Bomb Group), 58th Bomb Wing, 20th Air Force, in June 1944. Equipped with B-29's the group moved, via Africa, to Kharagpur, India in June 1944. Barker flew combat missions flying over “the Hump” to carry supplies from India to staging fields in China, before entering combat with an attack on railroad shops at Bangkok, Thailand, on 5 June 1944. From bases in India, China, and Ceylon, he mined shipping lanes near Saigon, French Indochina, and Shanghai, China, and struck Japanese installations in Burma, Thailand, French Indochina, Indonesia, Formosa, China and Japan. Targets included iron works, aircraft factories, transportation centres and naval installations. Barker’s regular B-29 aircraft (42-24734) named “Miss Lead” crashed at Tinian on return from a mission on 8 June, but was repaired. On 20 August 1944, as part of the 468th Bomb Group, Barker took part in the first US air raid on Japan since the “Doolittle Raid” in April 1942. 64 B-29 Superfortresses took part in this daylight raid on the iron and steel works at Yawata, Japan.

For this raid the 468th received a Distinguished Unit Citation as follows:
‘The 468th Bombardment Group (VH), XX Bomber Command, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy on 20 August 1944. The group dispatched 29 B-29 type aircraft to its forward bases and all aircraft were airborne on D-day as a part of the XX Bomber Command. Fighter opposition was successfully overcome on the way to the target. Despite a steady hail of intense and accurate flak concentrations which accounted for the destruction of one airplane, and damage to a second, causing it to crash on the return to the mainland of China, and despite continuous enemy fighter attacks employing suicide ramming tactics which accounted for the destruction of two or more of their aircraft, the 468th Bombardment Group (VH) succeeded in destroying the Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata on the Jap mainland. In the accomplishment of its primary mission, 15 enemy aircraft were damaged or destroyed. The success of its part of the mission by the 468th Bombardment Group (VH) was especially outstanding in that the method of attack used called for the utmost in daring and skill. The first daylight raid over the Japanese home islands since the historic raid of Tokyo in April 1942 proved the real effectiveness of daylight precision bombing by B-29s. The hazards of mechanical failure, fighter opposition, flak, and barrage balloons on the mission of over 3,000 miles were all overcome by the valor and high professional ability of all members of the 468th Bombardment Group, XX Bomber Command, and by their courage, cooperative spirit, and tireless energy the individuals of the group have reflected great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.’

The Group evacuated the advanced bases in China in January 1945 but continued operations from India, bombing storage areas in Rangoon, Burma, a railroad bridge at Bangkok, Thailand, railroad shops at Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, and the dry dock in Singapore harbour. Barker flew further missions against Japan after the Bomb Group repositioned to Tinian Island in the Marianas group in February 1945. They also took part in mining operations, incendiary raids on area targets, and high-altitude missions against strategic objectives.

The group dropped incendiaries on Tokyo and Yokohama in late May 1945, being awarded a second Distinguished Unit Citation for the attacks as follows:
‘The 468th Bombardment Group (VH) is cited for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy. During the period of 23-29 May 1945 the destruction of the militarily important industrial areas of Tokyo and Yokohama was completed, despite the fierce enemy anti-aircraft fire from these most heavily defended points of the Japanese mainland. On 23 and 25 May 1945, the heroic efforts of all personnel of the 468th Bombardment Group (VH) contributed materially to the destruction of an additional 22.1 square miles of vital industrial area in Tokyo, bringing to 56.3 square miles the total area devastated within that city, the center of Japan’s war industry. Before the Japanese had time to recover from this staggering blow to their morale and war potential, this group participated in a daring daylight strike on 29 May 1945 against the city of Yokohama, a single attack in great force, which reduced to rubble 6.9 square miles of the city’s most important industrial area. The success of this series of missions, flown as they were in rapid succession and over vast expanses of open sea, despite dangerous tropical weather conditions and intense enemy opposition, is a reflection of the exemplary devotion to duty demonstrated by the ground personnel and of the great professional skill, tenacity, and courage of aircrews. The achievements of the 468th Bombardment Group (VH) during this period of sustained effort reflect great honor on themselves and the armed forces of the United States.’

The group received another Distinguished Unit Citation for a daylight strike on an aircraft plant at Takarazuka, Japan, in July 1945, citation as follows:
‘The 468th Bombardment Group (VH) is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy. On 24 July 1945, this group and one other group of the 58th Bombardment Wing were ordered to knock out the Kawanishi aircraft plant at Takarazuka in a daylight precision bombing attack. This mission was of utmost strategic importance because the plant was known to manufacture components of a dangerous Japanese navy fighter. Inspired by the importance of the mission, both air and ground personnel worked tirelessly to insure maximum success of the strike. As a result, 42 airplanes of the group reached the target area. At the assembly point, the aircraft encountered continuously pointed fire that continued all the way into the target. The fire was so accurate and concentrated that twenty-three of the forty-two B-29s were damaged. Despite this savage fire the 468th Bombardment Group (VH) calmly and heroically held the compact formation necessary for maximum bombing accuracy and dropped 245 tons of explosives on the aircraft factory. When the group retired from the target area, the Kawanishi plant was 85% destroyed and was cancelled as a future target for B-29 aircraft, thus materially reducing the Japanese air potential. By the conspicuous courage, leadership, and professional skill of its combat crews, together with the high technical ability and unfaltering devotion to duty of its ground personnel, the 468th Bombardment Group (VH) on this occasion was able to inflict serious damage on the enemy. The gallantry, brilliant teamwork, and heroic determination displayed by the group reflect the highest credit on its personnel and exemplify the finest traditions of the Army Air Forces.’

Barker completed his tour on 29 July 1945, leaving for home just a few days before the “Enola Gay” left Tinian for Hiroshima. For his services, Barker received a letter of commendation from Brigadier General Ramsey, C/O 58th Bomb Wing, for completing 35 combat missions of which 8 were by night, for a total of 596 combat flying hours. He had served 13 months overseas, qualifying him for two overseas service bars and the seven battle stars for China campaign, India-Burma Campaign, Air Offensive Japan, Air Combat (Palembang), Luzon (Philippines), Ryukus, and Central Burma. He also received a first Air Medal for his missions flying ‘the hump’, 4th December 1944, second Air Medal (Cluster) on 2nd February 1945, the Distinguished Flying Cross for missions flying ‘the hump’, 6th April 1945 and the Distinguished Unit Badge, 15 June 1945.

Promoted Major, 28 August 1945, on 11 December he was assigned to 873 Squadron, 498 Bomber Group, McDill AFB Tampa, Florida, as a B-29 pilot instructor. On 14 March 1946, he was assigned to 873 Bomber Squadron, 498th Group and remained there until 30 September 1946, when he went on termination leave. He re-enlisted as a Master Sergeant in the Army Air Force on 5 December 1949, and was assigned to a base in the UK in December 1950, returning to the US in 1953. He retired on 20 October 1967, with a total Army Air Force service of 30 years, 7 months and 18 days.

Sold with a Leather cased B-29 bomb load adjusting slide rule, this numbered and marked ‘Model B-29’; the recipient’s dog tags; metal uniform name tag; pilots wings, embossed ‘Sterling’, uniform attachments removed for display; 20th Bomber Command silvered and enamel pin badge; Major’s collar insignia; sergeant’s chevrons, four U.S.A.F. unit patches; Air Force cloth escape map, South East China; the recipient’s lightweight side cap with Major’s insignia; additionally, a large archive of original documentation, including various photographs of Barker next to his B-29 “Miss Lead”, and of Barker with other crew; original newspaper cuttings relating to service and awards; ration cards, foreign currency; various U.S.A.F. Certificates and Diplomas, including Pilots training course completion, appointment to rank of Major and Master Sergeant, Strategic Air Command course, proficiency as Flying Instructor, and Honourable discharge. Also citations for both the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal, enlistment and service records, plus some copied research.