71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
 LC 4294-1
 
                        House Memorial 3
 
Sponsored by Representative WESTLUND (at the request of the
  family of Rex T. Barber)
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Urges United States Air Force Board for Correction of Military
Records to award Rex T. Barber credit for shooting down Japanese
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto's airplane during World War II.
 
                         HOUSE MEMORIAL
To the President of the United States, the Senate and the House
  of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress
  assembled, and the Air Force Board for the Correction of
  Military Records:
  We, your memorialists, the House of Representatives of the
State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled, respectfully
represent as follows:
  Whereas Rex T. Barber, a retired United States Air Force
Colonel now living in Terrebonne, Oregon, was based at Henderson
Field, Guadalcanal, in April 1943 when he was chosen to
participate in a dangerous, top secret mission in his P-38
Lightning; and
  Whereas American military intelligence had broken the Japanese
code and had learned that Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the commander
of the Japanese combined fleet and strategist behind the attack
on Pearl Harbor, was flying to Bougainville in the Solomon
Islands to inspect troops at the Japanese naval base; and
  Whereas Rex T. Barber took off from Guadalcanal in the early
morning hours of April 18, 1943, flying his P-38 Lightning in a
four-plane attack unit, and the attack unit flew for 435 miles at
no more than 50 feet above the ocean to avoid detection on a
mission to intercept and shoot down the plane carrying Admiral
Yamamoto; and
  Whereas Rex T. Barber's attack unit successfully intercepted
Admiral Yamamoto's plane and, after a brief but fierce air
battle, Admiral Yamamoto's plane lost a wing and crashed in
flames in the thick jungle on Bougainville, killing Admiral
Yamamoto and his crew; and
  Whereas Rex T. Barber and the surviving members of his attack
unit safely returned to a hero's welcome at Henderson Field, and
although the fog of war and the mists of time have caused
confusion as to which pilot in the attack unit shot down Admiral
Yamamoto's plane, recent research indicates that Rex T. Barber
should be given credit for the heroic feat; now, therefore,
 
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
  Oregon:
  (1) The Air Force Board for the Correction of Military Records
is respectfully urged to award Rex T. Barber credit for the
downing of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto's airplane during World War
II.
  (2) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to the President of
the United States, the Air Force Board for the Correction of
Military Records and to each member of the Oregon Congressional
Delegation.
                         ----------