Albert Gould Barber (1915 - 1952)

Born 19 Oct 1915 in Illinois, United States

Died 27 Jul 1952 at age 36 in At Sea

Biography

Albert Barber is one of twins.

A military plaque in Zion Cemetery memorializes the life of Major Albert G Barber. It is inscribed “553 Base Unit A.A.F. World War II October 18, 1916-July 27, 1952”.

Albert G Baker was the son of Roy H and Helen Gould Barber of Lawrence County. After Albert enlisted, he graduated from Luke Field Phoenix Arizona December 3, 1942, and received his silver wings. He was commissioned lieutenant and sent to Los Angeles, California where he received his final training. At the same time, his twin brother, John Barber, was promoted from radio man second class to radio man first class, in the naval reserves at Washington DC.

Albert flew in the 48th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Group, in North Africa and Italy. His record showed that he flew 50 combat missions for a total of 245 combat hours. At the completion of his service, he held the rank of Major. After the war Albert married the former Susan King, had a four-month-old son, and lived in Los Angeles working for American Express. A news article reported that Albert and eight other men decided to take a 33 ft fishing boat, The Spare Time, to the Santa Barbara islands on one hot Sunday morning in July 1952.

When they didn’t return the Santa Monica Lifeguard station began the search. The wreckage was found as well as three men alive in life jackets. The rescued men reported that members of the party tried to repair the engine, and during the work a boiler explosion rocked the boat and blew most of the men into the water. Some were so badly injured that they disappeared almost immediately. Barber was among those.

Facts

Albert Gould was born in 1915. He was the son of Roy Hartwin and Helen Gould Barber. He was the twin brother of John Roy Barber.

Major Albert Barber served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 27 Feb 1942
Unit(s): 14th FG, 48th FS
Service ended: 30 Dec 1945

He married Susan King. They had one son, Clifford H. Barber.^[1]

He died in 1952 in a fishing boat accident.^[2][3]

Research Notes

Active service: to 48th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Group, North Africa & Italy; 50 combat missions, 245 combat hours. Held the rank of Major upon completion of WWII service.

Sources

1. ↑ "California Birth Index, 1905-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VG3V-15X : 27 November 2014), Clifford Hoyt Barber, 18 Mar 1952; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
2. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14844245/albert-gould-barber: accessed 04 February 2024), memorial page for Albert Gould Barber (19 Oct 1915–27 Jul 1952), Find a Grave Memorial ID 14844245, citing Zion Cemetery, Billett, Lawrence County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Lady In Black (contributor 46799457).
3. ↑ "Albert G. Barber Dies in Fishing Boat Wreck," The Lawrence County News, 31 Jul 1952, Newspapers Clip: 140237743.

See also:

• "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJ42-PBR : Fri Dec 08 01:47:13 UTC 2023), Entry for Roy H Barber and Helen Barber, 1920.
• "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSBN-DBL : Fri Oct 06 13:31:31 UTC 2023), Entry for Ray H Barber and Robert C Barber, 1930.
• "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KMFM-Q17 : 5 December 2014), Albert G Barber, enlisted 27 Feb 1942, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
• FamilySearch Person: LY8W-XCH
• "Lt. Albert G. Barber," The Lawrence County News, 31 Dec 1942. Newspapers Clip: 140237128.
• "United States 1950 Census", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XG2-1X39 : Wed Oct 04 17:06:31 UTC 2023), Entry for Albert G Barber and Susan N Barber, 10 April 1950.