Berton H. Burns was born at Burnet, Texas, 16 Aug 1917, the son of Charles St Clair Burns and Annabel Motheral Burns.
He attended Texas A&M University and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Engineering. He was married to the former Phyllis Ward; they had seven children.
He completed pilot training in 1941. During World II, Colonel Burns flew combat missions during the Battles of Midway, Solomon Islands, India and China, and the Mariana Islands for a total of 89 combat missions. He was stationed at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, during the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
By the time he retired, he had over 6,000 hours flying time, from August 1940 to January 1964. He was assigned to units within the Strategic Air Command.
His assignments included:
1949 to 1953
Deputy Wing Commander and Commander,
509th Bomb Wing, and
6th Bomb Wing at
Walker APB, New Mexico.
1934 to 1957
Wing Commander
40th Bomb Wing,
Shilling AFB, Kansas.
1953 to 1954
Vice Commander, FEAF Bomber Command,
19th Bomb Wing
He attended the Air War College in 1957.
1958 to 1961
Wing Commander
4061st Air Refueling Wing
Malmstrom AFB, Montana.
1961 to January 1964
Division Commander
813th Strategic Aerospace Division
Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
Colonel Burns received the following awards and decorations:
Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Oakleaf Clusters
Air Medal with 4 Oakleaf Clusters
Purple Heart
Bronze Star Medal
Commendation Ribbon With 2 Oakleaf Clusters
Air Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award with 3 Oakleaf Clusters
United Nations Service Medal
Bronze Service Star for the following campaigns:
China,
China-Burma-India,
Air Off Japan,
Air Combat Palegang,
Central Burma,
Pacific,
Solomons,
Bismark Archepelago,
Guadacanal
His hobbies included golf, hunting, and rifled, and pistol shooting. He was active in the Texas Golf Association.
He died 7 Jan 2002 in Granbury, Texas.
For more photos and information about Col. Burns' military career, visit the website, The Manhattan Project Heritage Preservation Association, Inc.
In U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007
Berton Harrell Burns
Gender: Male
Race: White
Record Type: Application
Birth: Aug 16 1917 Burnet, Burnet County, Texas, United States
Submission date: June 1937
Father: Charles S Burns
Mother: Anne Motheral
Signed By: Client's signature
Reference Number: 66275603079
Description: Original SSN [social security number]
In Air Force Register Extracts
Berton H Burns
Birth: Aug 16 1917
Service #: 4844A
Permanent grade: Colonel
Grade date: July 1 1958
Temporary grade: Colonel
Temporary grade date: June 20 1950
Pay date: May 29 1940
Promotion #: 1760
Document date: 1960
He attended Texas A&M University and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Engineering. He was married to the former Phyllis Ward; they had seven children.
He completed pilot training in 1941. During World II, Colonel Burns flew combat missions during the Battles of Midway, Solomon Islands, India and China, and the Mariana Islands for a total of 89 combat missions. He was stationed at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, during the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
By the time he retired, he had over 6,000 hours flying time, from August 1940 to January 1964. He was assigned to units within the Strategic Air Command.
His assignments included:
1949 to 1953
Deputy Wing Commander and Commander,
509th Bomb Wing, and
6th Bomb Wing at
Walker APB, New Mexico.
1934 to 1957
Wing Commander
40th Bomb Wing,
Shilling AFB, Kansas.
1953 to 1954
Vice Commander, FEAF Bomber Command,
19th Bomb Wing
He attended the Air War College in 1957.
1958 to 1961
Wing Commander
4061st Air Refueling Wing
Malmstrom AFB, Montana.
1961 to January 1964
Division Commander
813th Strategic Aerospace Division
Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
Colonel Burns received the following awards and decorations:
Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Oakleaf Clusters
Air Medal with 4 Oakleaf Clusters
Purple Heart
Bronze Star Medal
Commendation Ribbon With 2 Oakleaf Clusters
Air Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award with 3 Oakleaf Clusters
United Nations Service Medal
Bronze Service Star for the following campaigns:
China,
China-Burma-India,
Air Off Japan,
Air Combat Palegang,
Central Burma,
Pacific,
Solomons,
Bismark Archepelago,
Guadacanal
His hobbies included golf, hunting, and rifled, and pistol shooting. He was active in the Texas Golf Association.
He died 7 Jan 2002 in Granbury, Texas.
For more photos and information about Col. Burns' military career, visit the website, The Manhattan Project Heritage Preservation Association, Inc.
In U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007
Berton Harrell Burns
Gender: Male
Race: White
Record Type: Application
Birth: Aug 16 1917 Burnet, Burnet County, Texas, United States
Submission date: June 1937
Father: Charles S Burns
Mother: Anne Motheral
Signed By: Client's signature
Reference Number: 66275603079
Description: Original SSN [social security number]
In Air Force Register Extracts
Berton H Burns
Birth: Aug 16 1917
Service #: 4844A
Permanent grade: Colonel
Grade date: July 1 1958
Temporary grade: Colonel
Temporary grade date: June 20 1950
Pay date: May 29 1940
Promotion #: 1760
Document date: 1960
Berton H. Burns was born at Burnet, Texas, 16 Aug 1917, the son of Charles St Clair Burns and Annabel Motheral Burns.
He attended Texas A&M University and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Engineering. He was married to the former Phyllis Ward; they had seven children.
He completed pilot training in 1941. During World II, Colonel Burns flew combat missions during the Battles of Midway, Solomon Islands, India and China, and the Mariana Islands for a total of 89 combat missions. He was stationed at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, during the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
By the time he retired, he had over 6,000 hours flying time, from August 1940 to January 1964. He was assigned to units within the Strategic Air Command.
His assignments included:
1949 to 1953
Deputy Wing Commander and Commander,
509th Bomb Wing, and
6th Bomb Wing at
Walker APB, New Mexico.
1934 to 1957
Wing Commander
40th Bomb Wing,
Shilling AFB, Kansas.
1953 to 1954
Vice Commander, FEAF Bomber Command,
19th Bomb Wing
He attended the Air War College in 1957.
1958 to 1961
Wing Commander
4061st Air Refueling Wing
Malmstrom AFB, Montana.
1961 to January 1964
Division Commander
813th Strategic Aerospace Division
Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
Colonel Burns received the following awards and decorations:
Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Oakleaf Clusters
Air Medal with 4 Oakleaf Clusters
Purple Heart
Bronze Star Medal
Commendation Ribbon With 2 Oakleaf Clusters
Air Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award with 3 Oakleaf Clusters
United Nations Service Medal
Bronze Service Star for the following campaigns:
China,
China-Burma-India,
Air Off Japan,
Air Combat Palegang,
Central Burma,
Pacific,
Solomons,
Bismark Archepelago,
Guadacanal
His hobbies included golf, hunting, and rifled, and pistol shooting. He was active in the Texas Golf Association.
He died 7 Jan 2002 in Granbury, Texas.
For more photos and information about Col. Burns' military career, visit the website, The Manhattan Project Heritage Preservation Association, Inc.
In U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007
Berton Harrell Burns
Gender: Male
Race: White
Record Type: Application
Birth: Aug 16 1917 Burnet, Burnet County, Texas, United States
Submission date: June 1937
Father: Charles S Burns
Mother: Anne Motheral
Signed By: Client's signature
Reference Number: 66275603079
Description: Original SSN [social security number]
In Air Force Register Extracts
Berton H Burns
Birth: Aug 16 1917
Service #: 4844A
Permanent grade: Colonel
Grade date: July 1 1958
Temporary grade: Colonel
Temporary grade date: June 20 1950
Pay date: May 29 1940
Promotion #: 1760
Document date: 1960
He attended Texas A&M University and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Engineering. He was married to the former Phyllis Ward; they had seven children.
He completed pilot training in 1941. During World II, Colonel Burns flew combat missions during the Battles of Midway, Solomon Islands, India and China, and the Mariana Islands for a total of 89 combat missions. He was stationed at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, during the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
By the time he retired, he had over 6,000 hours flying time, from August 1940 to January 1964. He was assigned to units within the Strategic Air Command.
His assignments included:
1949 to 1953
Deputy Wing Commander and Commander,
509th Bomb Wing, and
6th Bomb Wing at
Walker APB, New Mexico.
1934 to 1957
Wing Commander
40th Bomb Wing,
Shilling AFB, Kansas.
1953 to 1954
Vice Commander, FEAF Bomber Command,
19th Bomb Wing
He attended the Air War College in 1957.
1958 to 1961
Wing Commander
4061st Air Refueling Wing
Malmstrom AFB, Montana.
1961 to January 1964
Division Commander
813th Strategic Aerospace Division
Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
Colonel Burns received the following awards and decorations:
Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Oakleaf Clusters
Air Medal with 4 Oakleaf Clusters
Purple Heart
Bronze Star Medal
Commendation Ribbon With 2 Oakleaf Clusters
Air Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award with 3 Oakleaf Clusters
United Nations Service Medal
Bronze Service Star for the following campaigns:
China,
China-Burma-India,
Air Off Japan,
Air Combat Palegang,
Central Burma,
Pacific,
Solomons,
Bismark Archepelago,
Guadacanal
His hobbies included golf, hunting, and rifled, and pistol shooting. He was active in the Texas Golf Association.
He died 7 Jan 2002 in Granbury, Texas.
For more photos and information about Col. Burns' military career, visit the website, The Manhattan Project Heritage Preservation Association, Inc.
In U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007
Berton Harrell Burns
Gender: Male
Race: White
Record Type: Application
Birth: Aug 16 1917 Burnet, Burnet County, Texas, United States
Submission date: June 1937
Father: Charles S Burns
Mother: Anne Motheral
Signed By: Client's signature
Reference Number: 66275603079
Description: Original SSN [social security number]
In Air Force Register Extracts
Berton H Burns
Birth: Aug 16 1917
Service #: 4844A
Permanent grade: Colonel
Grade date: July 1 1958
Temporary grade: Colonel
Temporary grade date: June 20 1950
Pay date: May 29 1940
Promotion #: 1760
Document date: 1960
Inscription
B:Burnett, Tx. D; Granbury,Tx. Buried: 01/11/02
Gravesite Details
Preceded by wife Phyllis Burns. A survivor of Pearl Harbor.
