Brigadier General, United States Air Force. A 1943 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Lt Burdett completed pilot training while at the Academy and was awarded his wings in March 1943. After completing training in the P-38 Lightning, Burdett was assigned as a reconnaissance pilot with the 35th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron in the China-Burma-India Theater from April 1944 to May 1945. He flew RF-80 Shooting Stars after the war and RF-84 Thunderflash reconnaissance aircraft in the Panama Canal Zone from January 1950 to December 1952. From August 1954 to July 1957, Burdett served with the Military Assistance Command in Italy. He served at Headquarters U.S. Air Force from August 1957 to August 1962, when he was transferred to Headquarters Tactical Air Command at Langley AFB, Virginia. His next assignment was as Commander of the 50th Combat Support Group at Hahn AB, West Germany, from April 1964 to June 1965. He then became Vice Wing Commander of the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hahn AB, and then Commander of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, England, in July 1965. In August 1967, Col Burdett left England to become the Commander of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand.
Burdett departed Korat AFB on Nov. 18, 1967 as pilot of number three aircraft in a flight of four F-105D's, on a strike mission over Phuc Yen Airfield, North Vietnam. His aircraft was hit by fragments. He completed his pass, released his bombs, and made a nearly level right turn to exit the area. His aircraft was on fire. He attempted to light his afterburner, was unsuccessful, and the aircraft went into uncontrollable spin into a cloud undercast. No ejection was seen or parachute observed. He was 18 miles west of Hanoi. He was held to be missing in action from Nov. 18, 1967 to Jan. 15, 1968, at which time the North Việtnamese reported that he was captured the day of his shoot-down, and died of his egress injuries the same day. He was then officially listed as Missing in Action and promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General.
On 6 March 1974, the North Việtnamese government began returning the remains of our Prisoners of War that had died in captivity. Although he was only a POW for less than a day, because of his date of rank, he is technically the highest-ranking Prisoner of War of the entire Việt Nam War.
Awards and decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Soldier's Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. Also, he had been awarded pilot wings by the Bolivian Government.
--Obituary provided by Contributor THR (48277533)
Burdett departed Korat AFB on Nov. 18, 1967 as pilot of number three aircraft in a flight of four F-105D's, on a strike mission over Phuc Yen Airfield, North Vietnam. His aircraft was hit by fragments. He completed his pass, released his bombs, and made a nearly level right turn to exit the area. His aircraft was on fire. He attempted to light his afterburner, was unsuccessful, and the aircraft went into uncontrollable spin into a cloud undercast. No ejection was seen or parachute observed. He was 18 miles west of Hanoi. He was held to be missing in action from Nov. 18, 1967 to Jan. 15, 1968, at which time the North Việtnamese reported that he was captured the day of his shoot-down, and died of his egress injuries the same day. He was then officially listed as Missing in Action and promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General.
On 6 March 1974, the North Việtnamese government began returning the remains of our Prisoners of War that had died in captivity. Although he was only a POW for less than a day, because of his date of rank, he is technically the highest-ranking Prisoner of War of the entire Việt Nam War.
Awards and decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Soldier's Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. Also, he had been awarded pilot wings by the Bolivian Government.
--Obituary provided by Contributor THR (48277533)
Brigadier General, United States Air Force. A 1943 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Lt Burdett completed pilot training while at the Academy and was awarded his wings in March 1943. After completing training in the P-38 Lightning, Burdett was assigned as a reconnaissance pilot with the 35th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron in the China-Burma-India Theater from April 1944 to May 1945. He flew RF-80 Shooting Stars after the war and RF-84 Thunderflash reconnaissance aircraft in the Panama Canal Zone from January 1950 to December 1952. From August 1954 to July 1957, Burdett served with the Military Assistance Command in Italy. He served at Headquarters U.S. Air Force from August 1957 to August 1962, when he was transferred to Headquarters Tactical Air Command at Langley AFB, Virginia. His next assignment was as Commander of the 50th Combat Support Group at Hahn AB, West Germany, from April 1964 to June 1965. He then became Vice Wing Commander of the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hahn AB, and then Commander of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, England, in July 1965. In August 1967, Col Burdett left England to become the Commander of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand.
Burdett departed Korat AFB on Nov. 18, 1967 as pilot of number three aircraft in a flight of four F-105D's, on a strike mission over Phuc Yen Airfield, North Vietnam. His aircraft was hit by fragments. He completed his pass, released his bombs, and made a nearly level right turn to exit the area. His aircraft was on fire. He attempted to light his afterburner, was unsuccessful, and the aircraft went into uncontrollable spin into a cloud undercast. No ejection was seen or parachute observed. He was 18 miles west of Hanoi. He was held to be missing in action from Nov. 18, 1967 to Jan. 15, 1968, at which time the North Việtnamese reported that he was captured the day of his shoot-down, and died of his egress injuries the same day. He was then officially listed as Missing in Action and promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General.
On 6 March 1974, the North Việtnamese government began returning the remains of our Prisoners of War that had died in captivity. Although he was only a POW for less than a day, because of his date of rank, he is technically the highest-ranking Prisoner of War of the entire Việt Nam War.
Awards and decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Soldier's Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. Also, he had been awarded pilot wings by the Bolivian Government.
--Obituary provided by Contributor THR (48277533)
Burdett departed Korat AFB on Nov. 18, 1967 as pilot of number three aircraft in a flight of four F-105D's, on a strike mission over Phuc Yen Airfield, North Vietnam. His aircraft was hit by fragments. He completed his pass, released his bombs, and made a nearly level right turn to exit the area. His aircraft was on fire. He attempted to light his afterburner, was unsuccessful, and the aircraft went into uncontrollable spin into a cloud undercast. No ejection was seen or parachute observed. He was 18 miles west of Hanoi. He was held to be missing in action from Nov. 18, 1967 to Jan. 15, 1968, at which time the North Việtnamese reported that he was captured the day of his shoot-down, and died of his egress injuries the same day. He was then officially listed as Missing in Action and promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General.
On 6 March 1974, the North Việtnamese government began returning the remains of our Prisoners of War that had died in captivity. Although he was only a POW for less than a day, because of his date of rank, he is technically the highest-ranking Prisoner of War of the entire Việt Nam War.
Awards and decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Soldier's Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. Also, he had been awarded pilot wings by the Bolivian Government.
--Obituary provided by Contributor THR (48277533)
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