Embedded Files
These are various other websites that have references to Barry, the 20th Combat Mapping Squadron, the aircraft, etc.
Barry's Combat Missions
Barry's Combat Missions
History of the 20th Combat Mapping Squadron - an excellent, amazing resource, Barry is referenced on the page. It was made by Chuck Varney, son of a 20th CMS veteran.
https://varney.yolasite.com/xxrs.php
In June 2024 I made contact with Chuck, who graciously shared this report of all of the combat missions flown by Barry - 4 missions totaling 31.8 hours. Scroll through the document to see the details of the four total missions flown before the fatal landing accident:
Census information and UW Madison Yearbook from Ancestry.com
Census information and UW Madison Yearbook from Ancestry.com
1930 Census, when Barry was about 9 years old. Conway family starts on row 21, about halfway down the page. Some interesting tidbits: it shows the value of the home they owned was $5,000. It shows they owned a radio (the census form calls it a "radio set"). It shows Barry's parents were both 40 years old at the time of the census, and were both 26 years old when first married. It shows Barry's father was born in Wisconsin, and his father was born in Ireland, and his mother was born in Wisconsin. Barry's mother was born in Florida, and her father was born in Spain, and her mother was born in Florida. It shows Barry's father is a World War I veteran.
Source Citation:Year: 1930; Census Place: Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0024; FHL microfilm: 2342338
Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.
1940 Census - Dr John Conway is on the last row of this page, see below for the next page. This specific page is from the National Archives Identifier 139249371
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/139249371?objectPage=7
1940 Census. when Barry was about 19 years old . The rest of the Conway family is at the very top of the page (father Dr. John was on the preceding page). It shows Barry attended school or college since March 1, 1940, and highest completed level of school was high school (last completed year of school was high school class of 1939). The first page above shows that their home value went down to $4,000, from $5,000 in 1930 (perhaps because of the Great Depression?). It shows that as a physician, Dr. John Conway's wages/salary earned was $4,000.
Source Citation:Year: 1940; Census Place: Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin; Roll: m-t0627-04511; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 47-25
Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
1940 University of Wisconsin - Madison yearbook. Barry is in the bottom image, Turner House, 2nd row, 6th from the left.
Source Citation:"U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: University of Wisconsin–Madison; Year: 1940
Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
Luke Field Class 42-J
Luke Field Class 42-J
The Class Book for Luke Field Class 42-J includes this photo of Barry. Obtained from https://lukefieldaz.com/42-j/
Links that reference Barry
Links that reference Barry
Location and photo of Barry's grave site in Spring Valley, WI
https://www.cemify.com/cem/spring-valley-cemetery/gravesite-lookup/grave/555248
Barry's name on a Pierce County, Wisconsin memorial. "Dedicated to those from Pierce County who gave their lives in service to their country."
https://www.hmdb.org/PhotoFullSize.asp?PhotoID=152462
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=36321
Barry's enlistment record from the National Archives - enlisted on 21 January 1942, a few weeks after Pearl Harbor:
Howard Christenson's enlistment record on the same day:
Barry took classes at the University of Wisconsin, this page honors him:
https://www.uwgoldstarhonorroll.org/service_member/326/barry-cornelius-conway
Another site that honors Barry:
National Archives WWII Casualties by State, showing the results for Pierce County, Wisconsin - image is from https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww2/army-casualties/wisconsin.html
Rankin Aeronautical Academy
Rankin Aeronautical Academy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rankin_Field
Historical marker: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=141778
Closeup of the photo: https://www.hmdb.org/Photos4/499/Photo499983o.jpg?1027201994300PM
20th Combat Mapping Squadron and its Aircraft
20th Combat Mapping Squadron and its Aircraft
Photos of the 20th CMS, including the iconic one of Barry and crew and the Wango Wango Bird
https://6thprg.yolasite.com/20th-cms-personnel-and-aircraft.php
Oral History Interview with a WWII veteran of the 20th Combat Mapping Squadron (no connection to Barry, other than the same unit). Richard Eisenman was a medical technician in the unit.
Text: https://njmilitiamuseum.org/richard-eisenman
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8pJqAU0KyI&t=5s
The accident aircraft was an F-7A (a modified B-24), serial number was 42-73044, there is a mention of it in this database of serial numbers (search for "73044"):
https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_4.html
The Wango Wango Bird was serial number 42-64048, destroyed at the end of a ferry flight on 18 June 1944 (search this page for "64048")
https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_3a.html
Another mention of Wango Wango bird:
https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/42-64048.html
Another copy of the crew photo, with name, rank, role, and hometowns
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dougsheley/4242832522/in/photostream/
Two photos of the Wango Wango Bird and several other F-7A's of the 20th CMS
https://axis-and-allies-paintworks.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?13477
A little more information on the F-7A:
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_F-7_Liberator.html
Links about Nadzab and Saidor
Links about Nadzab and Saidor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lae_Nadzab_Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saidor_Airport
Saidor Airport Google Maps Satellite view:
2014 video of a plane landing at the Saidor Airport- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ-6hhG4icE
The Landing at Saidor, on 2 January 1944 - occurred a few months before Barry's unit arrived
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_at_Saidor
Some historical videos
Saidor landing, some film from an Australian War Memorial YouTube channel- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LmfSHBupjc
Another video with stills and voice over, basically a narration of the Wikipedia article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxwxjpr6-DY
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse