Bruce Dero Barton
Military
Assigned to 322BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. Crash landed in B-17 41-24439 'Chief Sly’ while serving as pilot on return from target Romilly-sur-Seine, France 20-Dec-42. Co-pilot was 2nd Lt. Arthur J. Reynolds. Aircraft was DBR and salvaged. No injuries reported in crash.
Awards: SS, DFC (OLC), AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).
Object Number - UPL 51793 - Capt. Bruce Dero Barton, Assigned to 322BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. Crash landed in B-17 41-24439 'Chief Sly’ while serving as pilot on return from...
Assigned to 322BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. Crash landed in B-17 41-24439 'Chief Sly’ while serving as pilot on return from target Romilly-sur-Seine, France 20-Dec-42. Co-pilot was 2nd Lt. Arthur J. Reynolds. Aircraft was DBR and salvaged. No injuries reported in crash.
Awards: SS, DFC (OLC), AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18065560 / O-728171
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38069052
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17026354
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18066336 / O-727106
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Bombardier

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11018233
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Chief Sly
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 29 May 1943
![An Airman of the 305th Bomb Group in his quarters Passed for publication 2 Jun 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '2/6/43.' Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Daily Sketch, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-407722.jpg?itok=GFwgV4xx)
- Date: 21 May 1943

- Date: 19 May 1943
- Date: 17 May 1943
- Date: 15 May 1943
Places

- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Greenville County, SC | 27 March 1919 | Son of Michael David and Lottie Mae [Hunt] Barton. |
Enlisted |
2 July 1941 | Charlotte, North Carolina | |
Died |
Georgia | 12 July 1969 | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46465470/bruce-dero-barton |
Buried |
Graceland West Cemetery and Mausoleum Greenville, Greenville County, SC | 15 July 1969 | Graceland West Cemetery and Mausoleum Greenville, Greenville County, South Carolina |
Based |
Bassingbourn | Assigned to 322BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Corrected chief sky to sly
Changed rank to captain
Lee Cunningham 6-Dec-2014. All information and changes from "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; made connections to Place, Aircraft and Mission within existing website data.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol.1 by Bishop and Hey p. 55, Plane Names and Fancy Noses : The 91st BG by Bowden pp.49-51 pictures and accident account