Description

1939 – 45 Star, Africa Star with clasp NORTH AFRICA 1942 – 43, Defence and War Medals, Australian Service Medal 1939 – 45 all impressed named 4032131J.R.H. BARBER. Court mounted for display they come with copies of service records and 459 Squadron extract.

Flight Lieutenant John Robert Hughes Barber was born on 2/12/1911in Sydney, Australia. Pre WW2 he was working as a salesman, on the outbreak of the war he enlisted into the Arm in September 1939 and was posted to the 52nd Anti-Aircraft Battery.   He successfully enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force as Air Crew on 5/1/1941.

He trained as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in Australia and underwent further training in England October 1941. At the completion of training, he was posted to 459 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force on 28/3/142. He served with the squadron until 11/7/1943 with a total of 471 flying hours (366 operational). He was commissioned on 26/6/1942 as Pilot Officer.

459 Squadron was formed in early 1942 and served as a maritime patrol and bomber unit in the Mediterranean theatre. It operated against German shipping in the Mediterranean, focusing mainly upon interdicting German sea lines of communication that were being used to resupply forces in North Africa. Throughout June, July and August, the Hudsons destroyed a large number of German landing craft. German losses were so heavy that the vessels were withdrawn from the area, although the Australian squadron had suffered heavy losses in achieving this.

At the conclusion of his operation tour, he was posted to various training units being returned to Australia in May 1944 for further training on Liberators. He finished the war as a Flight Lieutenant and discharged on 16/3/1945. He died in 1981 in New South Wales.