World War II Honoree

Robert A. Barraclough

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Honored By

John Peterson

HE WAS IN COMMAND OF THE FIFTH AIR COMMANDO SQUADRON, WHICH FLEW THE OLDEST AIRCRAFT IN THE AIR FORCE INVENTORY. THE WORKHORSE OF WWII, THE C-47 'GOONEY BIRD' TRANSPORT, FLEW PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE MISSIONS, AND AS FLARESHIPS TO SUPPORT ALLIED NIGHT GROUND OPERATIONS AND SOPHISTICATED HIGH PERFORMANCE WARPLANES. HE EARNED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, HIS SECOND AWARD OF THE MEDALS. AS AN AIRCRAFT COMMANDER DURING A NIGHT MISSION TO AID ALLIED TROOPS ENGAGED WITH THE ENEMY NEAR BINH DINH, IN SPITE OF AUTOMATIC WEAPON FIRE, HE COURAGEOUSLY KEPT HIS C-47 OVER THE AREA FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS TO DROP FLARES TO ILLUMINATE AND PINPOINT THE HOSTILE POSITIONS. HIS UNDAUNTED DETERMINATION AND SUPERIOR AIRMANSHIP WERE CREDITED BY THE GROUND FORCES WITH ULTIMATE DEFEAT OF THE ENEMY. COMMISSIONED THROUGH THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM IN 1942. SERVED 12 MONTHS IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AND FOUR MONTHS IN TRINIDAD DURING WWII.