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 Lieutenant Robert Donovan
Barbour,
(1924-2001), was born on February 20th, 1924 in Raleigh, North Carolina. After
completing High School, Lieutenant Barbour enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942. On June
14, 1942, he transferred to Maxwell Field, Alabama to begin Flight Training. After
completing initial flight school, on May 22, 1943 he reported to 403 Troop Carrier Group
at Pope Field, Fort Bragg, North Carolina as they prepared to deploy to the Pacific
Theatre to fight the Japanese. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 7 November 1944, and
was not satisfied with his duties during the war thusfar. He saw a request for a trained
and experienced C-47 crew to resupply the guerilla
forces that were aiding the allies in fighting the Japanese. This was for the 2nd
Emergency Rescue Squadron stationed at Morotai. With the blessing of his command, he
applied and was accepted to the 2nd Emergency on 29 November 1944. He began flying
missions right away, and over the next several months was instrumental in providing the
guerillas with much needed fuel and supplies. He received orders to re-deploy to the
States on April 10, 1945 though a promotion to Captain awaited him if he stayed in the
Pacific. The paperwork had already been started and he returned on 20 April 1945.
Lieutenant Barbour was separated from active duty on 23 May 1945, but subject to recall if
the need be.
Mr. Barbour returned
to civilian life and was a planner with the City Planning Department of the University of
Arkansas in 1955. Two years later Mr. Barbour headed a staff of more than 50 with the
North Carolina Division of Community Planning, which provided planning assistance to more
than 100 local governments. Mr. Barbour moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1971 to head a
branch office of Barbour-Cooper and Associates, a planning consulting firm he established
in 1965 with headquarters in Birmingham. He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club of
Jacksonville Beach, the Beachers Art Foundation and Beefeaters. He earned a Bachelor's
Degree and Masters Degree in regional planning from the University of North Carolina. Mr.
Barbour passed away on January 24, 2001 at his home in Neptune Beach, Florida.
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