HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG0747.AM: Dale F. Barr
Papers: 1941-1945
Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska: World War II tail gunner
Size: One reel of microfilm
BACKGROUND NOTE
On December 30, 1941, 132 young men from the Grand Island area were sworn into the U.S. Army Air Corps as airplane mechanics. Fifteen days later, due to a mix up, these men arrived in Australia with no basic training to begin their service in the 403rd Bombardment Squadron. After training, the 403rd participated in several major campaigns, including Papua, New Guinea, the Bismarck Sea, Leyte, Luzon, and the Southern Philippines.
Dale F. Barr was one of the Grand Island men in the 403rd. He spent 32 months, beginning in March 1942, in Australia and New Guinea as a tail gunner on a B-17 and a B-24.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection consists of one reel of manuscript material arranged in three series: 1) Scrapbooks, 1941-1945; 2) Military Histories; and 3) Miscellany. This material relates to the experiences of the 403rd Bombardment Squadron and tail gunner Dale F. Barr in Australia and New Guinea during World War II.
The Scrapbooks of Series 1 include Barr’s photograph albums, compilations of military records, and newspaper clippings about his and the Squadron’s exploits. Barr has identified many of the individuals and scenes pictured.
Series 2 includes Military Histories of the 403rd Bombardment Squadron, the 13th Reconnaissance Squadron, the 5th Air Force, and the 43rd Bombardment Group.
The Miscellany of Series 3 consists of a few loose photographs.
Copies of many of the photographs in this collection are available in the photo component of the collection (RG0747.PH).
INVENTORY
Series 1 – Scrapbooks, 1941-1945
Reel 1
Volume
- Photo Album
- Photo Album
- Photo Album
- Photo Album
- “Memoirs”
- Newspaper Clippings
Series 2 – Military histories
Item
- 403rd Squadron History
- 403rd Bombardment Squadron Official Lineage
- 13th Reconnaissance Squadron Diary, 1941-1943, (parts illegible)
- 5th Air Force, 43rd Bombardment Group and 403rd Bombardment Squadron Write-Ups
- 403rd Bombardment Group Official Awards
- Veterans of 403rd Bomb Squadron
- Down Under – Memento of the heavy bombardment groups in the Southwest Pacific
Series 3 – Miscellany
Item
- Captain Jack’s Original Crew
- Rabaul
- Warships in Rabaul Harbor
- American ship
- Barr Family, 1945
Subject headings:
Barr, Dale F.
Military history, modern — 20th Century
Soldiers — Grand Island (Nebraska)
United States. 5th Air Force — History
United States. 13th Reconnaissance Squadron — History
United States. 43rd Bombardment Group — History
United States. 403rd Bombardment Squadron — History
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945 — Aerial operations
World War, 1939-1945 — New Guinea
Revised TMM 04-17-2007
