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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Joe D. Barbee left Texas A&M College in December 1942 and joined the Army Air Corps as a cadet. Training started at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls for basic. Then to Jonesboro Arkansas in the CTD program waiting for pre flight to open up. From Jonesboro we went to Santa Ana, Cal. for pre-flight.
From Santa Ma we went to Oxnard, Cal. for primary flight training in PT-13 Stearmans.
Basic flight training was at Marana AAB in Tucson, Az. Where we flew BT-13 “Vultree Vibrators”.
Advanced training was at Williams Field in Tempe near Phoenix where we flew AT-6’s. I graduated in May which was the class of 44-E.
Next was Edwards AAB in Cal. where we flew P-39 Aircobra’s and then to Ephrata AAB to fly P-63 Kingcobras and then P-38’s.
I was assigned to the 13th AF in the South Pacific and went to Nadzab, New Guinea where I checked out in the P-47 Thunderbolt.
From there I was assigned to the 12th Ftr Sqd.and joined them in Zamboanga, Southern Mindanao, Philippine Islands. Flew missions providing air cover for shipping and also dive bombing with 500 lb’ers and also napalm fire bombs on towns and oil fields in Borneo. Received the Air Medal and a promotion to l Lt, We were to leave the next morning for Okinawa for the invasion of Japan when the Atomic bombs were used and the war ended!!! Within a few months we were sent home.
I was born in Weslaco, Tx. In 1923 and I returned after the war to become an Agriculture John Deere Dealer for 40 years. Sold the business in 1996 and still live in Weslaco. I have a beautiful wife Loretta for 52 years and two super children. Our son William Terry Barbee and our beautiful daughter Susan Elisabeth McClure.
I’m 76 and it’s February of this year 2000 and we still live in Weslaco, TX and I fly my Bonanza A-36 or my Husky airplane at least once or twice a week. It has been a wonderful life and GOD has greatly blessed me and my family. We thank Him greatly.