Dates

• Existence: 1921 - 1997

Biographical Note: Raphael H. Barto

Raphael "Ray" Harold Barto served in the U.S. Air Force as a fighter pilot from 1942-1966.

Barto was born in Rochester, Pennsylvania on January 11, 1921. He started flying when he was 11 years old.

On July 16, 1941 he enlisted in the military. In 1946 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lietenant and served as an instructor. Between 1948 and 1953 her served as a 1st Lieutenant and Captain with the 31st Fighter Bomber Wing out of Turner Air Force Base in Albany, Georgia. From 1953-1957 he was stationed at the Wheelus Air Force Base in Tripoli, Libya, as part of the Tactical Fighter Training Branch of the 7272nd Air Base Wing and served as flight commander. He received promotion to Major in 1962 and flewwith the 563rd Tactical Fighter Squadron. He completed a tour in Vietnam as a combat pilot and received a medal for action while there. He later was stationed at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas as part of the 835th Combat Support Group within the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron. He retired from the military on October 19, 1966.

While stationed in Libya, he met flight nurse Bette Harris. They were married in 1960. Barto passed away on May 31, 1997 in Springfield, Missouri.

Biography derived from collection materials and information provided by family.

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