United States. A Posthumously Awarded Air Medal To Lieutenant Burke, Killed In A Flying Accident At La Tontouta, New Caledonia

In bronze, engraved "LT. (JG) DONALD R. BURKE USNR APRIL 26-JUNE 5, 1943", measuring 42 mm in diameter, original ribbon with brooch pinback, extremely fine. In its hardshelled case of issue, marked "AIR MEDAL" on the lid, blue velvet medal bed, extensive wear and soiling evident on the exterior, wear in the fabric overlying the hinged area, case fair. Accompanied by an original letter from the Navy Department, Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D.C. (notifying his mother, Marguerite Burke of Hollywood, California, that the Air Medal was being forwarded to her "under separate cover, by registered mail", signed by Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs, United States Navy, The Chief of Naval Personnel, date stamped March 4, 1944, printed in black ink on an off-white paper stock, personalized inscriptions in typewritten text, 204 mm (w) x 265 mm (h), small tear on the right edge); five Photographs (first photo is black and white, matte finish, illustrating a group of twenty-six naval airmen in front of an airplane, with Burke seated second from the right in the front row, the identification of all twenty-six airmen listed on the reverse, 253 mm (w) x 202 mm (h)); second photo is black and white, matte finish, illustrating a group of one hundred and seven naval airmen and service personnel in front of an airplane, with Burke seated second from the right in the front row, 235 mm (w) x 98 mm (h); and three photos in black and white, gloss finish, all three illustrating Burke in the field taken with his comrades in front of a tent, two at 129 mm (w) x 88 mm (h) and one at 88 mm (w) x 129 mm (h)); a Manila Mailing Envelope (from "Lt. (JG) D.R. Burke, C.R.A.G. - VT11, % Fleet Postmaster, San Francisco, California", addressed to his mother, Mrs. A.M. Burke of Hollywood, California, originally containing the two group photographs, postmarked April 7, 1943, with three U.S. stamps, a 20 cent stamp and two 6 cent air mail stamps, 290 mm (w) x 215 mm (h)); along with copies of his Service Records.

 

Footnote: Donald Randall Burke was born on August 2, 1919 in Rapid City, South Dakota, the son of Marguerite Burke of Los Angeles, later Hollywood, California. His religion was Presbyterian. Burke graduated from Santa Monica Junior College in Santa Monica, California in June 1939. He received two months' training with the Citizens Military Training Camp at the Presidio of Monterey in Monterey, California. He moved to Missouri, where he completed three semesters in the Business and Public Administration School of the University of Missouri in Columbia and was a member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) band for two years. Burke was a resident of the Daniel Boone Hotel in Columbia, when he signed his Application for Aviation Training in the United States Naval Reserve (116346) on April 5, 1941 in Columbia. In an assessment before the Naval Aviation Cadet Selection Board on May 20, 1941, Burke was determined to be "average" officer material, with a pleasant personality and manner, a neat appearance, labeled as an "aggressive" type of individual and that he was "educationally qualified". Four days later, he enlisted as a Seaman 2nd Class with the United States Naval Reserve in St. Louis, Missouri on May 24, 1941. He reported for active duty for flight training at the Naval Reserve Aviation Base at Robertson, Missouri, on July 15, 1941, which he completed on August 6th aboard N3N Landplanes. He "qualified" and was "recommended to be placed on the eligible list for possible later appointment as Aviation Cadet and flight training". He was released from active duty for flight training on August 14th, his enlisted service terminated, in order to accept an appointment as an Aviation Cadet. He was transferred to the United States Naval Air Station at Corpus Christi, Texas, accepting the appointment and executing the oath of office, beginning his training as an Aviation Cadet on October 2, 1941. Burke was appointed to the rank of Ensign on March 25, 1942 and designated Naval Aviator (Heavier than Air) on April 14, 1942. While at Corpus Christi, he stood 79th in a class of 149 and completed a specialized course in "Carrier" as of June 1, 1942. He was detached from the Naval Air Station at Corpus Christi on June 2nd, having "performed his temporary active duty undergoing training in a very satisfactory manner during the period he has been attached to the Advanced Carrier Training Group, Pacific, June 24, 1942 to October 18, 1942". Burke was transferred and reported to Torpedo Squadron Eleven (VT-11) Air Group, Carrier Replacement on October 19th. He accepted an appointment and executed the oath of office as Ensign A-V (N), USNR to rank from March 25, 1942. From June 2 to December 31, 1942, his duties included: Naval Aviator, Parachute Officer and Squadron Duty Officer. Burke was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) A-V (N), USNR on March 1, 1943. After his lengthy service in the South Pacific with Torpedo Squadron Eleven, especially having performed combat missions out of Henderson Field at Guadalcanal, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Burke was slated for a vacation in Sydney, Australia. He was to take a C-47, which was the initial military version of the DC-3, used as a transport plane, which carried four crew (Pilot, Co-Pilot, Navigator, and Radio Operator) and had seats for twenty-seven troops alongside the fuselage interior. The plane had become a popular one throughout the region, as it could be used as an "Aerial Ambulance", fitted for casualty evacuation and could carry eighteen stretcher cases and a medical crew of three. 965 of these had been built, including twelve for the United States Navy, designated as R4D-1.

 

The C-47 was vital to the success of many Allied campaigns, in particular those at Guadalcanal and in the jungles of New Guinea and Burma, where the C-47 (and its naval version, the R4D) made it possible for Allied troops to counter the mobility of the light-travelling Japanese Army. Additionally, C-47s were used to airlift supplies to the embattled American forces during the Battle of Bastogne in Belgium in December 1944. Possibly its most influential role in military aviation, however, was flying "The Hump" from India into China. On the morning of June 8, 1943, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Burke was aboard an R4D-1 plane when it crashed shortly after taking off from La Tontouta, New Caledonia. The wreckage of the plane was located in Tontouta Bay, two miles northwest of La Tontouta. Burke's body was recovered and transferred to the United States Army Mortuary in Noumea, New Caledonia. The examination of his body revealed that he had a depressed skull fracture over his left orbital region, that his left mandible and maxilla were crushed, as well as his chest cage, that he had a compound fracture of the left arm, multiple compound fractures of the left leg and a fracture of the right leg, all of which contributed to his death. Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Donald Randall Burke died on June 8, 1943, at the age of 23 and was interred in the United States National Cemetery in Noumea, New Caledonia. After the war, his remains were returned to the United States and re-interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, Plot: Whispering Pines, Lot 283-3. His grave marker is inscribed "LT. DONALD R. BURKE / KILLED IN ACTION / 1919 - 1943", although he died as the result of a flying accident. His mother, Marguerite Burke, was informed of his death in a telegram dated June 14, 1943, which was confirmed in a follow-up letter sent to her and dated June 28th. In a letter from his mother, Marguerite Burke, addressed to Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs, Chief of Naval Personnel, Arlington, Virginia, dated June 22, 1943, she indicated that she had received the telegram of June 14th informing her of her son's death. She also mentioned that she had received two letters from her son: the first one dated June 1st, telling her that "he was forced down, lost his plane and (was) picked up and taken to an island where he had several days rest"; the second one dated June 6th, stating that "he was leaving June 7th for 2 weeks vacation". She was a heartbroken mother but was hopeful that there was a mix-up on the part of the Navy; that her son may still be alive: "Could it be possible the report you received was sent when he failed to return and lost his plane & was on this island? Naturally I cling to every tiny thread of hope and would so much appreciate any further information you could get for me". In a second letter, dated June 23rd, she re-stated her concerns for proof of her son's passing once again, but he had unfortunately died in the air accident on June 8th. In a letter from the Personal Effects Distribution Center at the United States Naval Supply Depot in Clearfield, Utah, dated October 4, 1943, it stated that his personal effects were being held there pending information necessary to effect shipment. In a letter from F.L.

 

Ashworth, Commanding Officer, Torpedo Squadron Eleven, addressed to Commander, South Pacific Force and South Pacific Area, Ashworth recommended that "an award be given posthumously to the late Lieutenant (JG) Burke", as he had participated in a total of nine combat missions from Henderson Field at Guadalcanal, from April 26 to June 5, 1943. His letter focused on the following missions: "Six bombing attacks against enemy runways, anti-aircraft positions, bivouac areas and supply dumps in the Munda-Vila area by which he contributed to the rendering of those bases unoperational and to the invasion by out forces. / One night attack search for shipping in the Kahili area, which could not be completed because of impassible weather. / Two completely successful night mine-laying missions in the Kahili and Faisi Harbors. These missions required precise, low-level steady-course flying for periods up to one and one-half minutes during which his plane was under continual searchlight illumination and intense heavy and automatic weapon anti-aircraft fire at ranges of less than one thousand yards. With disregard for his personal safety, he completed his runs on both missions, placing his mines in the prescribed locations. Daily reconnaissance has revealed that at least two enemy vessels have been severely damaged by these mine fields." Ashworth actually recommended Lieutenant (JG) Burke for the Distinguished Flying Cross and suggested that his citation read: "For heroism and extraordinary achievement, and for distinguished services as a pilot of a torpedo plane in action against the Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area, in the course of which, with disregard for personal safety and displaying a high degree of skill, fortitude, and devotion to duty, he executed many damaging missions against fortified enemy positions, and completed successfully two extremely hazardous mine-laying operations in strongly defended enemy harbors. His conduct has been at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service." Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Donald Randall Burke, A-V (N), United States Naval Reserve was subsequently recommended for the Air Medal (in lieu of the DFC), "in recognition of his meritorious achievement as pilot of a torpedo plane in action against the Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area during which he participated in nine combat missions between 26 April and 5 June 1943". In a letter to his mother, Marguerite Burke, dated March 4, 1944, Lieutenant (JG) Burke was officially awarded the Air Medal, posthumously, for action against enemy Japanese forces from April 26 to June 5, 1943, the letter signed by Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs, United States Navy, The Chief of Naval Personnel, with the award to be sent "under separate cover, by registered mail". In addition to the Air Medal, Burke was posthumously awarded the American Defense Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.