Lieutenant Colonel Barry Avery Kibbe, USAF, Ret. 84, of Greenville Texas, passed away on July 7, 2024 at Briarcliff Health Center in Greenville, Texas. A graveside service will be 10:00 A.M., Friday, July 12, 2024, at Memoryland Memorial Park under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.
Barry was born on July 28, 1939 in Plainfield, New Jersey to Dr. Milton Kibbe and Margaret Thron. He married Joyce Nordine Longbine on May 28, 1960.
He entered the Air Force Aviation Cadet Program in 1958 and graduated as 2nd Lt. with Navigator Rating, Kessler AFB Electronic Warfare Officer (EW), Castle AFB B-52 Training as an EW, and Roswell AFB Special B-52 Training. He served as EW on a B-52 Combat Ready Crew Westover AFB and B-52 Combat Ready Crew McCoy AFB and flew 48 B-52 Arc Light Combat Missions in Southeast Asia from Guam AFB. In April 1968, he was assigned as RC-135M/D EW 82nd SRS Kadena AFB Okinawa, he flew 120 Combat Apple Reconnaissance Missions in direct support of Southeast Asia from Kadena AFB Okinawa.
In November of 1970 was assigned as RC-135C/S (Big Team and Combat Sent) QRC Sensor Operator, 343rd SRS Offutt AFB. Flew numerous Global Reconnaissance missions from Offutt AFB and other Strategic locations. He was additionally involved in the test and development of new-generation ELINT sensors for these aircraft. As a result of these activities, in 1972, he was the lead technical member of a team that designed the original Rivet Joint (RJ) concept and aircraft. In 1973, as the Raven 3 on the first RJ and did the initial AF factory acceptance and flight testing at E-Systems in Greenville, Texas. As a member, the primary RJ 1 flight test crew flew the initial operational missions throughout the world. RJ 1 was deemed operational in November of 1973.
In July of 1974, he was assigned to 55th SRW, Offutt AFB as a Technical Specialist Staff Evaluator/Instructor Raven 1, 2, 3, RC-135V RJ and the Headquarters SAC project officer for the RJ Program. As such, he was the SAC primary lead on the Automatic ELINT Emitter Location System (AEELS) and the Tactical Data Link subsystem. Delivered the first In-Theater AEELS ground UHF (line of sight) downlink terminal to Germany in 1974. Continued work with the contractor on developing the RJ hardware and software in support of operational missions and SAC mission processing and reporting.
In August of 1976, was assigned to the 544th IES Wing (SAC) Offutt AFB as Chief of the Operational ELINT Exploitation Branch evolved with the processing, analysis, evaluation and reporting Signal Intelligence Data collected by the RJ platform and other classified sources.
On May of 1977 was assigned to Detachment 2, 2762nd Logistics Squadron (Special) Air Force Logistics Command Greenville, Texas as the Chief of Engineering Branch. The Big Safari Program is responsible for the acquisition, modification, maintenance, and life cycle support of selected high-priority special purpose systems and aircraft being delivered to 55th SRW. During the initial years, he was primarily involved in the Program Depot Maintenance (PDM) and along with the delivery of the remaining 14 RJ platforms. He was the Project Engineer involved in the development and fielding the first-generation Real-Time Optical System (RTOS) for the Cobra Ball (CB) aircraft. Flew the first operational mission with the RTOS from Shemya Island, in December 1983. Provided technical support to the SR-71 ELINT Improvement Program (EIP) and U-2 Automatic ELINT sensors. Redesigned the AEELS UHF (line of sight) Tactical Data Link, to an untethered Satellite Data and Voice Link. Developed and delivered the original three AEELS Tactical Downlink Vans to Various operation Commanders throughout the world. Later downsized the Vans to portable (suitcase) terminals.
He was then assigned to a new classified program Majors Airfield, Greenville, Texas. He retired from Detachment 2, 2762d Logistics Squadron (Special) Air Force Logistics Command with 30 years of service in July 1988. A Master Navigator with over 8,000 flying hours, including 2,700 combat hours. Upon retirement, he accepted an Engineering with Chrysler Technologies Airborne Systems (CTAS) in Waco, Texas in August of 1988. Under public law, in force at the time, he was not allowed to be associated with any previous AF efforts. Worked on other classified projects until CTAS was put up for sale in early 1990.
In January of 1991, he accepted a Project Engineer/Program Manager with E-Systems on various Big Safari Programs in direct support of RC-135 aircraft and other classified Big Safari initiatives. He was the Project Engineer/Program Manager for the contracting, design, procurement, fabrication, testing, and delivery of Rivet Joints 15 and 16. This was a major effort in that a new RJ had not been produced in over a decade. Upon completion of RJ 15 and 16, he led a technical team in the new RC-135 Glass cockpit program known as Rivet Glass. Training aircraft and all the RC-135 (Joint, Sent, Ball) have been delivered with the capability along with the integration of Rivet Glass Cockpit and the CFM 56 engines. Also, he designed, fabricated, tested, and delivered the ”PTT” simulator trainer to the 55 SRW which was needed to support front-end training of Rivet Glass/CFM 56 re-engine aircraft.
He retired from E-Systems/L-3 Communications IS in September of 2005. He retained all of his security clearances through L-3 Communications IS and was under an Air Force-funded contract to provide Consultant services on various Big Safari programs, working with the Big Safari Dayton Office and the L-3 Communications Tactical Recon Systems program office to reduce the RC-135 fleet Program Depot Maintenance (PDM) schedule to 18 months or less.
His awards included Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 12 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Commendation with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Combat Readiness Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Bronze ”V” Device with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Longevity Service Award with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce Kibbe; son, Barry A. Kibbe, Jr. and wife, Beverly; and grandson, Brandon A. Kibbe.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
