(For some time, I haven’t posted anything “here” at TheyWereSoldiers, or at my other two blogs, WordsEnvisioned and ThePastPresented. This reflects my tendency to release posts on a variety of topics simultaneously, rather than – one, by one, by one – incrementally. So, there’s much in my queue, which I hope to complete and release in the (relatively?!?) near future.
In the meantime, here’s a very brief post. (Well, brief for me, for I tend to write lengthily, blasphemous by the standards of the year 2022!)
The post is inspired by the reminiscences of William S. Lyons, who vividly recalled witnessing the loss of two fellow 357th Fighter Squadron pilots in a mid-air collision during a fighter escort mission to Misburg, Germany, on November 26, 1944. They were 1 Lt. Bernard R.J. Barab and 2 Lt. Charles W. Kelley. Barab was killed as a result of the collision and Kelley was murdered one day after being captured. I was able to present nominal information about Barab and Kelley in the latter post, but now – after having dug deep and deeper into my files – I’m able to recount Barab’s life in a fuller, way, showing the “man” as well as the “pilot”.
This comes by the way of a series of newspaper articles which (I think…?) were published in The Press of Atlantic City during and after WW II. The images of these articles, displayed and transcripted below, were made from paper photocopies (not PDFs!) of the articles, which were provided to me by the Atlantic City Free Public Library in the 1990s. Yeah, I have had these articles for a long time!
The articles are presented chronologically, commencing with Barab’s 1942 assignment as an Aviation Cadet at Maxwell Field in, through the resolution of his fate eight years later, in 1950. Through these stories, aspects of his life and family are revealed that naturally would not – by definition or relevancy – be apparent in the historical records of the 357th Fighter Squadron: His enlistment in the Army Air Force three weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, his participation in basketball at Atlantic City High School, and of particular note, his assignment as a flight instructor – rather than combat duty – at Napier Field upon receiving his wings. Which, I think, would suggest excellent flying skills.
Though the articles mention his having shot down a “jet” in October of 1944, I believe this is incorrect, for USAF Study 85 credits him with a single aerial victory – on November 26, 1944; probably an Me 109 or FW 190 – the latter as accurately mentioned in the articles. Though I don’t have the records of the 357th FS before me, perhaps the downing of an Me-262 in reality involved participation in aerial combat where a jet was downed by another 357th pilot. If so, perhaps on that occasion he served as a wingman to the pilot who actually attained the victory.
The final article, from February of 1950, reflects information in Luftgaukommando Report J 2624, which lists the crash location of Lt. Barab’s Mustang, OS * A, as being in a swamp five kilometers north of Darfeld, Germany. The physical difficulty of actually retrieving P-51D 44-13574, which was submerged to a depth of fifteen feet, was the probable cause of the several-years-delay in resolving Lt. Barab’s fate.
But, resolved his fate was, and he is buried at the American Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium. According to the American Battle Monuments Commission, Lt. Barab was awarded the Air Medal and one Oak Leaf Cluster (no mention of the Purple Heart?) so he probably flew approximately ten combat missions.
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Perrin, Barab Taking Pilot Courses In South
April 20, 1942
Maxwell Field, Alabama – Among the thousands of aviation cadets now taking pre-flight courses at the huge Air Corps Replacement Training Center (Air Crew) at Maxwell Field, Alabama, are two from Atlantic City, New Jersey, as follows: John Pershing Perrin of 21 N. Vermont Ave. and Bernard Ralph James Barab of 2 South States Ave.
Cadet Perrin is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Louis Perrin. He is a former student at Rutgers University.
Cadet Barab is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Barab, and prior to his appointment as a cadet in the U.S. Army Air Corps was a student at Ursinus College.
When these cadets finish the course at Maxwell Field, they will be sent to one of the many primary flying schools in the Southeast Air Corps Training Center to begin the first phase of their pilot training.
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Lts. Barab, Perrin, Get Their Wings
January 20, 1943
Sgt. Samuel Barab and Mrs. Barab have just returned from Napier Field, Dothan, Ala., where they went to see their son, Lt. Bernard James Barab, graduate from the first class in 1943, get his “wings.” Lt. John Perrin, of Ventor City, was in the same class.
Lt. Barab is a graduate of the local high school where he starred as a basketball player, being member of the champion five that made athletic history in the Glenn Falls, N.Y. game. When the war broke out he was a sophomore in Ursinus College. He quit his academic studies to enlist in the Army Air Corps in New York City. Subsequently he received his training in Augusta, Ga., and in Alabama where he qualified to operate pursuit and fighter planes. He received his commission on Jan. 14.
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January 29, 1943
2nd Lt. Bernard Ralph James Barab, son of Mrs. Mary Barab, of 927 Atlantic Ave., has been assigned to duty as flying instructor at that Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School at Napier Field, Nothan, Ala. Lt. Barab is a graduate of Atlantic City High School and attended Ursinus College. He completed the Army flying training and was commissioned a second lieutenant Jan 14 at Napier Field.
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April 4, 1943
2nd Lt. Barney Barab, son of Police Sgt. and Mrs. Samuel Barab, has returned to his duties following a brief furlough with his parents.
Lt. Barab, a graduate of Atlantic City High School, is a flying instructor in the Army Air Corps, and is stationed at Napier Field, Dothan, Ala. He was a sophomore in Ursinus College, when he joined the Air Corps 14 months ago.
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Lt. Barab Flies Home To Visit Mother
July 31, 1943
Lt. Bernard Barab paid a surprise visit to his mother, Mrs. Mary Barab, 927 Atlantic Ave., yesterday flying to Atlantic City from Napier Field, Ala., where he is an instructor in advanced combat flying for the Army Air Forces.
He has a 24-hour leave before the start of a new class at Napier Field and will return today, reporting for duty on Sunday. He covered the ___-mile trip in six hours.
Lt. Barab was graduated from Atlantic City High School and attended Ursinus College for two years before enlisting in the armed forces. He received his training at Maxwell Field, Ala. He is remembered as an outstanding basketball star at Atlantic High.
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Lt. Barab Wins Promotion
August 28, 1943
The promotion of 2nd Lt. Bernard R.J. Barab, 927 Atlantic Ave., this city to first lieutenant was announced last night by the War Department at Washington. Lt. Barab was in a list of 17 New Jersey officers to be advanced in rank.
He is the son of Police Sgt. Sam Barab. He graduated from the Atlantic City High School and attended Ursinus College.
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September 10, 1944
Lt. Bernard Barab, son of Sgt. Samuel and Mrs. Mary Barab of this city recently completed an orientation course overseas prior to going in combat. He was a member of the Atlantic City Beach Patrol prior to entering the service.
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Lt. Barab Downs Nazi Plane in Big Air Battle
November 27, 1944
Lt. Bernard R.J. Barab, former Atlantic City lifeguard and Atlantic City High School basketball star, brought down his first German plane yesterday during an air battle over Misburg, Germany, according to an Associated Press dispatch.
At least 122 German fighters were shot down in the battle, one of the biggest between the Luftwaffe and the U.S. Eighth Air Force.
Lt. Barab is the son of Police Lt. Samuel Barab, of 127 Ocean Ave., who will retire Dec. 16 after 21 years on the Atlantic City Police Force, and of Mrs. Mary Barab, of 2 S. Bartram Ave.,
He enlisted in the Air Forces on Dec. 28, 1941, after graduating from Atlantic City High School and attending Pennington Prep and Ursinus College. He was commissioned on Jan., 14, 1943, and served as an instructor for 18 months, going overseas last August.
In letters to relatives here, he said that he had been over Berlin several times and had been through several “buzz-bomb” attacks.
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Barab Listed As Missing Over Germany
Seven From This Area Reported As Wounded
December 30, 1944
First Lt. Bernard R.J. Barab, son of Police Lt. Samuel and Mrs. Mary Barab, was reported as missing in action in notification from the War Department received here yesterday.
The former Atlantic City life-guard and Atlantic City High School basketball star was listed as “missing in action” over Germany since Nov. 26, the same date on which he brought down his first Nazi plane in a tremendous air battle over Misburg.
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The battle over Misburg in which Lt. Barab is presumed to be missing was one of the largest between the Luftwaffe and the U.S. Eighth Air Force, costing the Germans 122 planes.
Lt. Barab graduated from Atlantic City High School and attended Pennington Prep and Ursinus College. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on De., 28, 1941, and was commissioned on Jan. 14, 1943. He served as an instructor for 18 months before going overseas in August of this year.
His father recently retired after 21 years on the Atlantic City police force. His mother resides at 2 S. Bartram Ave
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Barab, Stuebgen Officially Dead
Confirmation Received By Resort Relatives
October 27, 1945
Relatives here were notified officially yesterday of the deaths in action of two Atlantic City soldiers, both of whom had been reported by the War Department as having been missing in action.
The parents of 1st Lt. Bernard R.J. Barab, son of retired Police Lt. Samuel Barab, 127 Ocean Ave., and Mrs. Mary Barab, 2 Bartram Ave., received word that their son was “officially dead”.
Lt. Barab, a Mustang fighter pilot, had been reported lost in Nov. 1944, while on a mission in the area between Muenster and the Rhineland, Germany. On the same day he brought down his first Nazi plane during a tremendous air battle over Misburg.
Lt. Barab was graduated from the Atlantic City High School and attended Pennington Preparatory School and Ursinus College. He enlisted in the Air Forces Dec. 28, 1943, and was commissioned on Jan. 14, 1943. He served as an instructor for 18 months before going overseas.
His mother, father, two sisters, Eileen and Thelma, survive.
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Solemn High Mass For Lt. Barab Tomorrow
November 15, 1945
Solemn high requiem mass will be celebrated at 8 A.M. tomorrow, in Holy Spirit Church, for the late 1st Lt. Bernard R.J. Barab, resort airman who was reported as missing in action over Germany on Nov. 26, 1944, the same date on which he brought down his first Nazi plane in a tremendous air battle over Misburg.
Word arrived in this city on Oct. 19 from the War Department that Lt. Barab was officially dead. Prior to that time, his parents, retired Lt. of Police Samuel Barab, 127 Ocean Ave., and Mrs. Mary Barab, of 2 Bartram Ave., had held out hopes for his ultimate safety.
His mother, father, and two sisters, Eileen and Thelma, survive.
Lt. Barab was graduated from the Atlantic City High School and attended Pennington Preparatory School and Ursinus College. He enlisted in the Air Forces Dec. 28, 1941, and was commissioned on Jan. 14, 1943. He served as an instructor for 18 months before going overseas, and was credited as being one of the few American airmen to down a Nazi jet plane.
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Lt. Barab’s Body Found
February 25, 1950
Word has just been received here that definite identification has been made of the body of First Lt. Bernard R.J. Barab, reported missing in action over Munster, Nov. 26, 1944, his father, retired police lieutenant Samuel Barab, 127 Ocean Ave., revealed last night.
Lt. Barab, well know throughout this area as an outstanding athlete particularly in basketball, was reported officially dead by the War Department in October, 1945.
Identification of the Atlantic City airman was confirmed in a letter from the Office of the Quartermaster General Department of [the] Army, Washington, D.C., this month, Mr. Barab said. Four identification tags, articles of clothing and a parachute, all bearing Lt. Barab’s name, were in August, 1949, found near a metal plate bearing the serial number of the plane he was flying at the time he was reported missing, the Army letter reported. The scene is near Darfeld, Germany. Final verification was sent to Mr. Barab a few days ago.
Mr. Barab granted permission for interment in the U.S. Military Cemetery, Neuville-en-Condroz, near Liege, Belgium.
Bagged Jet Over Germany
One month before his last mission, Lt. Barab shot down a German jet plane. He was one of the first American airmen credited with bringing down a German jet plane. (November 26, 1944, the same day he was reported missing, Lt. Barab brought down his first Nazi plane in an air battle over Misburg in which at least 122 German fighters were shot down.)
In 1946, a group of former school chums organized the Lt. Bernard J. Barab Post, 4209, American Legion. To perpetuate the memory of the former shore basketball player, widely known here as “Bubby,” the Post annually awards a “most valuable player” trophy to an Atlantic City High School player selected by a secret committee composed of sportsmen, officials and former players. A replica of the main trophy, which remains in the high school with the name of the player inscribed each year, is presented to the player himself.
Mr. Barab presented the colors to the Post named in his son’s honor. A ladies’ auxiliary recently was formed, also.
Reference (just one reference)
USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II, Albert F. Simpson Historical Research Center, Air University, Office of Air Force History, Headquarters, USAF, 1978.