Profiles in Aviation: The Unexpected Naval Aviator – TV Legend Bob Barker

The Game Show Host You Know Today Was a Naval Aviator Ready to Go to War Back in the Day

Updated : TV legend Bob Barker passed away on August 26, 2023 at the age of 99. We have updated this story to commemorate his passing.

Robert William “Bob” Barker is best known for his career in television. He hosted numerous well-known television shows like Truth or Consequences from 1956 until 1975 and The Price Is Right from 1972 until 2007. Barker also appeared on shows like CBS’ coverage of The Rose Parade, Bonanza, Tattletales, Match Game, The Nanny, The Bold and the Beautiful, and just about every talk show out there during his career, along with many more- and of course his memorable appearance (as himself) in the 1996 Universal movie Happy Gilmore (“I don’t want a piece of you…I want the whole thing!”). Bob Barker is one of the most recognizable names (and faces) in American television history. But…did you know that before Barker became famous, he became a Naval Aviator during World War II?

Every Fledgling Pilot Starts Somewhere

Barker was born on 12 December 1923 in Darrington, Washington. He spent much of his youth on the Rosebud Indian Reservation located in Mission, South Dakota- in part because Barker is one-eighth Sioux Indian. He enlisted in the United States Navy Reserve while attending Drury College in Springfield, Missouri on a basketball scholarship in 1943. Barker reported to William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri for his initial ground school on 9 June 1943. Barker began his pre-basic flight training at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa flying Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshoppers.

Stearmans, Valiants, and Texans

Barker then reported to the University of Georgia in Athens for Preflight School, where he also played on the Navy Basketball team. Next Barker made his way to Naval Air Station (NAS) Millington outside Memphis, Tennessee, where he flew the ubiquitous N2S Stearman trainer. After mastering the wily Stearman, Barker reported to NAS Cabaniss Field in Texas, where he flew Vultee SNV Valiant fixed-gear intermediate trainers. After flying the Valiant Barker moved over to NAS Beeville in Texas and on to advanced training in the North American SNJ Texan trainer. Upon completion of his flight training in South Texas, Barker was commissioned as Ensign Robert Barker USNR.

Learning His Craft in the Wildcat

Newly-minted Ensign Barker next reported to NAS DeLand near Daytona Beach in Florida. Barker was plugged into the VF pipeline for operational training, so the first fighter aircraft he flew was the Eastern FM-2 Wildcat while learning formation flying, night flying, dog-fighting, aerial gunnery, and practicing field carrier landings. Later during his operational training Barker also spent time at Glenview NAS outside Chicago, from where he flew his FM-2 out to the paddle-wheel carrier USS Wolverine (IX-64) and learned how to land and take off from the boat while it plied the waters of Lake Michigan.

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