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AHJ_ah12756 Inventory of the Walter H. Barling papers, 1912-1967 Barling (Walter H.) Papers Processed by Krist Jessup University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.

American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/

2026

University of Wyoming

Finding aid encoded by Jamie J. Greene March 2021 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Barling, Walter H. Walter H. Barling Papers 1912-1967 12756 18.49 cubic ft. (23 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English Walter H. Barling, Sr. was an aeronautical engineer who designed the Barling Bomber. Collection contains manuscript material, correspondence, photographs and negatives, newspaper clippings, motion pictures and video, and blueprints and technical drawings related to Barling's career and aircraft designs. Biography of Walter H. Barling, Sr.

Walter H. Barling, Sr. was born in 1890 in Kent, England. From 1900-1905, Barling attended the Polytechnic, Woolwich, London. Afterwards, he began an engineering apprenticeship in 1905 and in 1910 was put in charge of the factory’s workshop. He attended the Royal College for Science and Technology in London, eventually graduating with degrees in mathematics and mechanics. After graduation, he began work in the Royal Aircraft Factory developing and stress testing aircraft parts. During the First World War, he continued this work and was appointed a member of the Design Board for the British army at Farnbrough. In 1919, Barling and his family moved to the United States, where he was immediately employed by the federal government to design a large bomber. The “Barling Bomber” was finished and conducted its first successful flight in 1923. It was the largest airplane in the world at the time. Barling went on to design several more planes including the Barling NB-3, Barling B-6, and a helicopter. He had multiple patents awarded to him in multiple countries including the United States, England, France, and Japan. Barling worked for several aircraft firms in the U.S. after the war and retired in the 1950s. He passed away in 1965.

Scope and Content

This collection contains manuscript material, correspondence, photographs and negatives, newspaper clippings, motion pictures and video, and blueprints and technical drawings related to the “Barling Bomber” and other planes designed by Barling, as well as his wider career.

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

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There are no known other archival collections created by Walter H. Barling at the date of processing.

This material was received from Frederic W. Barling and the Estate of Laverne L. Barling in February 2020. More material was recieved from Fred Barling in January 2024.

The collection was processed by Krist Jessup in March 2021. The collection was updated by Brittany Heye in January 2026.

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Access Terms Aeronautical engineers. Aeronautics. Aircraft industry. Airplanes -- Design and construction. Bombers. Military history. Blueprints (reprographic copies) <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Politics, Government, and Law Military Container List Series I. Personal and Professional Papers 1Artifacts: Refill leadsundated Biographical information - W.H. Barling: 1Biographical and employment information1919-1952 1Checkbook1921-1922 1Convair - photographs of W.H. Barling's retirement1955 1High school commencement speech and music program1939 1Immigration and naturalization application and papers1913-1928 1S.D.O.P. & P Society1918 1Booklets and informational pamphlets1921-1976 1Business cards and passes1923 1Contracts and legal documentsundated 1Correspondence1922-1955 1Correspondence: Memorandums1920-1922 1Manuscripts: Writings by W.H. Barling1912-1956 Motion picture film and video: 18Planes and engineering tests (3 35mm roles)undated 18Yesterdays Newsreel #73 - ZIV Television Programs, St. Louis, Missouri (16mm reel)March 1, 1954 20Royal Video Products (1" reel to reel video tape)undated 1Newspaper clippings: Tarrant crash1919 1 and 5Newspaper and magazine clippings1923-1956 1Patents1920-1953 1 and 19Photographs and negatives1923-1945 1Postcardsundated Publications: 1The Journal of the Aeronautical Society1924 1Le Blond Service Manual1929 1Liberty: A Weekly for EverydayMay 16, 1931 1Miscellaneous technical manuals, reports, and journals1918-1952 1Technical Memorandums, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics1940-1941 21B.B. press cuttings1923-1924 21Bomber1923-1943 21Correspondence - Daedalen Air Mail (Mrs. J.E. Barling)1966-1967 21Bomber clippings1917-1932 21Technical drawings - Patent1940-1950 21Photographs - NB3 & 6 Par1923-1933 21Photographs - Photo bat plant one "mike"1914-1919 21Correspondence -Mr. Walter H. Barling from Marechol and Noe1939 21Photograph - WHB & Bomber permit1941 21Report - for Mr. Barling1918-1923 21Re: Patents1932-1967 21Publications1917-1955 21Commissioner Patents1921-1922, 1926 22Notes, Correspondence, and Agreements1922-1938 23Photographs - Black and white oversizedundated Series II. Aeronautical Engineering Papers 1Airplane designs: 1Aeroplanesundated Barling Bomber: 2Bomber offers and correspondence1923-1924 2Drawings, notes and specificationsundated 2Flights and recordsundated 2Index of assemblies and listsundated 2Specifications and blueprints1918-1923 Barling NB-3: 2Contracts1929-1935 2Drawings, notes and specificationsundated 2Newspaper clippings1929-1943 2Specifications and blueprints1928-1929 2Liberty Engine Mail Planeundated 2Lincoln Page Airplane1928 2MX Bomber and monoplanesundated 2Nichola Beazley (N.B.) Model #2undated 2Aeronautical data - general1916-1926 2Airplane costs and manufacture1917-1927 2Airscrews1915-1920 2Electrical technologyundated 2Hamilton and calculus of variations applicationsundated 2Heat Engines IIIundated 2Large bombers (newspapers, magazines, correspondence)1944-1955 2Mathematicsundated 3Miscellaneous aeronautical design notebooks (notes, drawings, specifications, and blueprints)1915-1950 3Opticsundated 3Optics by Lune Burgundated 3Propellers/helicoptersundated 3Resistance and performance1929-1931 3Second Constructor Method patent applicationundated 3Sleet/plastics/processingundated 3 and 19Struts1917-1935 3Supersonics1945-1955 4-17Technical drawings and blueprints - miscellaneous1920-1953