 Berton Burns, in cockpit of B-29, during WWII
 Col. Burns, early 1960s, as Base Commander, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
 Col. Burns after retirement, c. 2000, ready for golf |
| Berton H. Burns was born at Burnet, Texas, 16 Aug 1917, the son of Charles St Clair 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:
China-Burma-India, Air Off Japan, Air Combat Palegang, Central Burma, Pacific, Solomons, Bismark Archepelago, Guadacanal 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., at this address: <http://www.mphpa.org/classic/COLLECTIONS/OC-BBUR/Pages/BBUR_Gallery_01.htm> |
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