Lieutenant Robert L. Barg Flying Jacket

Lt. Robert L Barg (1918–2013), born in San Benito, TX, served as a B-29 Flight Engineer during World War II. In his plane—Sleepy Time Gal—he flew missions in the China-Burma-India (CBI) and Pacific theaters.

Robert Barg enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940. In 1943, he was sent to Officer Candidates School where he graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant. Graduating in the top 10% of his class, he was chosen for B-29 bomber training. He became a B-29 Flight Engineer, arriving in India in 1944.

Sleepy Time Gal was assigned to the 44th Bombardment Squadron. Stationed in India, the eleven-man crew flew missions targeting enemy rail yards and transportation. They also flew missions supplying bombs and gasoline to our Chinese allies, flights that often lasted 15 hours. In January 1945, Sleepy Time Gal and its crew moved to flying missions near Japan.

Robert Barg’s flying jacket reflects his World War II service. The front of the jacket features a leather patch representing the 44th Bombardment Squadron. It is not an official military patch and would have been made in India by a local artisan or U.S. service member. Sewn to the sleeves are patches for the 20th Air Force and CBI theater, also made locally in India. His name tag was altered to include his name in Chinese and Hindustani. The multiple languages would help identify Barg if he had to bail out over India or China.

Barg and the Sleepy Time Gal crew flew the dangerous route from India to China, known as “flying over the hump.” The flight path took them over the Himalayan Mountains. The high altitude needed and the lack of an emergency landing location made it a treacherous journey. If the crew had to bail out, silk identification flags known as “blood chits” would help identify the crew as Americans.

The term "chit" comes from British slang for a document. It was a promise of reward for those who helped the downed airmen. The payments ranged from $50 to $250. These flags were carried by air personnel and were designed to provide identification of a downed flyer. The multiple languages were to help facilitate assistance from locals. Lt. Barg’s jacket contains two different silk “chits” sewn into the lining: an American flag with messages in six different languages and the Nationalist China flag with a message in Chinese. Approximately 50 different versions of “blood chits” were in use during World War II. They were tailored to the countries over which the pilots flew. Lt. Robert Barg never had to make use of his silk rescue flags. He finished out his combat service with 35 completed missions.