Rex T . Barber Colonel Rex T . Barber ( May 6 , 1917 – July 26 , 2001 ) was a World War II fighter pilot . He is best known as a member of the top secret mission to intercept the aircraft carrying Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto in April 1943 . Personal life . Barber was born and raised in Culver , Oregon , to Charlotte F Barber and William C Barber . He was a student at Linfield College and then Oregon State University in Corvallis , Oregon , majoring in agricultural engineering , from 1937 to 1940 , before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in September 1940 . Barber married Margaret I Trollope ( February 11 , 1918 – April 26 , 2005 ) at Tyndall Field on October 3 , 1947 . They had two sons , Rex Barber Jr . and Richard Barber . Military service . Barber received his commission as a U . S . Army officer and his pilot ' s wings on October 31 , 1941 . He joined the 70th Pursuit Squadron , which arrived at Guadalcanal , Solomon Islands , in December 1942 . Flying a Bell P - 39 Airacobra , he scored his first victory by downing a Japanese bomber on the 28th . Upon transfer to the 339th Squadron , he began flying P - 38 Lightning s and claimed two Zero fighters on April 7 . On April 18 , Lieutenant Barber figured prominently in the Yamamoto interception , also known as Operation Vengeance . Intelligence sources had learned that Yamamoto would be flying in a " Betty " bomber on an inspection tour of Japanese bases in the northern Solomon Islands . Most military historians credit Barber with the sole kill of Yamamoto ' s aircraft . Previously , Barber and Captain Thomas George Lanphier , Jr . were officially credited with half a kill each in Yamamoto ' s bomber . Barber also shared a second Betty destroyed on the same mission . In 2003 , he was officially credited with the sole kill after an inspection analyzed the crash site and determined the path of the bullet impacts , thereby validating Barber ' s account and invalidating Lanphier ' s claim . After his tour of duty ended in June 1943 , then - Captain Barber requested a return to combat . Late that year , he joined the 449th Fighter Squadron in China , still flying P - 38s . He claimed three further Japanese planes probably destroyed and damaged , but he was shot down on his 139th mission , bailing out near Kiukiang on April 29 . He was rescued by Chinese civilians , who treated his injuries and escorted him to safety five weeks later . At the end of the war , Barber attained the rank of major and commanded one of America ' s first jet squadrons . He retired as a colonel in 1961 . Decorations . Barber was awarded the Navy Cross , two Silver Star s , a Purple Heart , an Air Medal and numerous other awards over his military career , including the Veterans of Foreign Wars Gold Medal of Merit . Return to civilian life . Upon his military discharge , Barber returned to Culver , Oregon , and resided there for the next forty years . He worked as an insurance agent and , at different times , served the city of Culver as mayor and judge . He was a strong supporter of Little League Baseball , and often helped out local youth . He was actively involved in service organizations until his death at Terrebonne , Oregon . His son , Rex Jr . , is quoted as saying that his " afterburner just flamed out on him . " 60th anniversary of the Yamamoto shootdown . On April 18 , 2003 , Governor Ted Kulongoski proclaimed the day " Rex T . Barber Day . " The previous week , the Oregon State Legislature had declared that the new bridge on U . S . Highway 97 over the Crooked River was to be named the Rex T . Barber Veterans Memorial Bridge in his honor . ( This bridge replaced the Crooked River High Bridge . ) The new bridge , plaque and kiosk honoring Barber were dedicated on August 9 , 2003 at Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint .