PORTLAND, Ore. -- April 9th marks the annual commemoration of National Former POW Recognition Day. While many people think of this as welcoming our former prisoners home, a number of our military personnel who were captured by the enemy did not survive to be liberated.
Such is the case for a pilot named Edward Burke Burdett, who first flew combat with the 35th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (35th PRS), today’s 123rd Fighter Squadron, the Redhawks, in the China-Burma-India Theater of operations during World War II.
World War II Redhawk
Edward B. Burdett was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on March 10, 1921 and graduated from the US Military Academy in 1943. He completed pilot training at the academy and received his wings in March, 1943. Lt. Burdett was later assigned to the 35th Photo Reconnaissance squadron during the unit’s conversion to the Lockheed Lightning photo reconnaissance aircraft which began in early 1944.
Deployed by ship from the east coast to India from April 22 to June 2, 1944, he reached the squadron’s temporary base at Gushkara, India by June 13. There the Redhawks awaited their aircraft and made final preparations for deployment into China on which took place September 10. Five pilots, however, went ahead to China in August and flew their first missions with the 21st Photo Reconnaissance Squadron already in China and Lt. Burdett may have been one of them.
The squadron established itself at Chanyi Air Base, and sent out flights to forward operating locations to extend the reach of the unit. Lt. Burdett deployed with “F” Flight to Nanning on in mid-September, 1944. He flew F Flight’s first mission on September 17, a Tri-Metrogon photo reconnaissance of Hainan Island off the SE China coast.
Lt. Burdett, also known in those days by the nickname “Shifty,” experienced an air raid on Nanning Airfield by Japanese aircraft on September 30. Burdett’s aircraft, possibly F-5E-2-LO 43-28294, an aircraft he flew on that first mission and frequently, was damaged by several bomb fragments which necessitated transfer back to Chanyi for repairs.
Lt. Burdett flew a variety of Tri-Met missions to greatly aid in map making for the southeast part of the China area, to Hainan Island, the Liuchow peninsula, west of Nanning, and into northern Indochina, to places like Diem Dien and Pho Cat Ba near Haiphong.
Flight F’s historical report for October 3, 1944, written by 2nd Lt. George A. Cleeves who was the flight’s historian, S-1, S-2, S-3, S-4, censor, weather and other duties assigned, also noted “One aid for moral (sic) here is the rather good Hanoi beer. When a plane returns and the beer has been removed from the nose and shell ejector chute and put in the shade we help the pilot out.” Hanoi was to be an important place in Shifty Burdett’s future.
Due to approaching Imperial Japanese Army ground forces in their largest ground offensive of the war, Operation Ichi-Go, “F” Flight was forced to evacuate from Nanning on October 6, 1944. Personnel and aircraft returned to the squadron’s headquarters base at Chanyi.
Subsequently promoted to Captain, Burdett was placed in charge of “F” Flight when it moved from Chanyi to Lao Whang Ping Airfield in the second half of February, 1945.
With a flight composed of four F-5E aircraft and some 50-60 officers and men, Capt. Burdett led by example, flying to Hong Kong, Canton, Kweilin and various railroad and road reconnaissance between such points of interest in southeastern China. In March, 1945 “F” Flight completed 14 photo recon missions, with Shifty flying at least five of them.
According to HQ Fourteenth Air Force General Orders Number 33, issued 80 years ago on 9 April 1945 and signed by the commander, Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault, paragraph 19, five pilots of the 35th PRS, including Edward B. Burdett, were awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial flight on reconnaissance missions flown in-theater.* The group citation read as follows:
“During the periods indicated they flew 100 or more hours of combat flight from bases in China in photo-reconnaissance aircraft which necessitated their acting as pilots and navigators as well as photographers. Flying in unarmed aircraft at extreme range and in spite of hazardous weather, they obtained invaluable photographic intelligence on enemy installations in northern and eastern China, along the China coast, on Hainan Island and in French Indo-China. The versatility and skill of these pilots reflect great credit upon themselves and upon the Army Air Forces.”
Then Lt. Burdett’s flying time for this award was from September 16 to December 19, 1944. Capt. Burdett completed his combat tour the same month as the award was given, flying at least four more recon missions in April, before he left the Redhawks on April 29, 1945 and returned to the US.
Postwar Service
After World War II, Capt. Burdett stayed in the service and flew the RF-80 photo recon version of the Shooting Star fighter. He was assigned to the Panama Canal Zone during the Korean War timeframe (1950-1952) where he flew the RF-84 Thunderflash photo recon jet. He served overseas in Italy with the Military Assistance Command (1954-57), HQ USAF (1957-1962), then at HQ TAC for a couple of years.
He went overseas again to US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) where he became the 50th Combat Support Group commander and, briefly, the 50th TFW vice commander at Hahn AB, Germany (1964-65), and then over to England where he was the commander of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing from 14 July 1965 to 7 June 1967, an F-100 Super Sabre unit like the 50th TFW was.
Vietnam War
As an experienced wing commander, he was selected to command a Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) tactical fighter wing in Southeast Asia. After F-105 training at McConnell AFB, KS he deployed to take command on August 1, 1967 of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base. The 388th TFW was one of the primary units involved in the escalating Operation Rolling Thunder air campaign over North Vietnam.
As the 388th TFW commander, Col. Burdett was under pressure from the White House, the Defense Department, PACAF and Seventh Air Force to abide in the onerous Rules of Engagement (ROE) American forces had to operate under in the Rolling Thunder air campaign. The two wings and bases flying the F-105 in Rolling Thunder, the 388th TFW at Korat and the 355th TFW at Takhli, flew 75% of the bombing missions up in North Vietnam, and so received a lot of attention from higher headquarters. And in the aftermath of the “Turkestan Incident” of June 2, 1967, the 9,000-mile screwdriver was being used even more to ensure that ROE and even tactics were accomplished as directed from echelons above.
One Korat F-105 day strike pilot recalled how at the end of a mass briefing by the strike force commander for a mission into Route Pack 6, the Hanoi area and the most dangerous airspace over Southeast Asia, Col Burdett got up on the briefing stage.
There, he spoke about sight placement on the assigned target, to ensure the pipper was on the assigned target at bomb release or pilots would be subject to court martial. If a pilot couldn’t place his pipper on the assigned target he was to jettison his bombs in safe mode over water, which didn’t make sense for this mission as the ingress and egress routes were overland along Thud Ridge.
Col Burdett further reviewed that the film from the strike cameras on the aircraft would be reviewed and the circuit breakers for the cameras made inaccessible. The pilot thought that he, Col Burdett, was directed under duress to deliver these remarks from echelons above.
Despite the constraints self-imposed by the chain of command on aircrews, Col Burdett flew a number of combat missions under this ROE and risked his own hide over North Vietnam. He received recognition for several important missions which he flew up north.
He was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross again, this time “…for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot over North Vietnam on 2 September 1967. On that date, Colonel Burdett was a member of a flight of four F-105 Thunderchiefs directed against a high priority military target. Although he faced heavy anti-aircraft and SA-2 missile launches, Colonel Burdett delivered all ordnance on target inflicting considerable damage.”
Col Burdett was again awarded a Bronze OLC to the DFC about a week later, “…for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a F-105 Thunderchief Pilot over North Vietnam on 10 September 1967. On that date, Colonel Burdett was a member of a Splendid Flight which attacked and destroyed a high priority military target. Despite marginal weather and anti-aircraft fire, Colonel Burdett delivered all ordnance on target.”
Still later that month he flew a mission for which he was awarded the Silver Star: “…in action over North Vietnam, on 30 September 1967. On that date, Colonel Burdett led a twenty-ship strike force to a successful attack against a high priority military target. The destruction of this bridge seriously restricts the flow of military supplies to the hostile forces in South Vietnam.”
The next month he flew a machine for which he was awarded the Fourth Bronze OLC to the DFC, “…for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot over North Vietnam on 25 October 1967. On that date, Colonel Burdett was a member of a major strike force assigned to attack a high priority military target. Despite constant hostile artillery fire, Colonel Burdett courageously pressed his attack successfully.”
Two days later, Col Burdett flew another award-garnering mission, a Fifth Bronze OLC to the DFC on another strike up north: “…for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief pilot over North Vietnam on 27 October 1967. On that date Colonel Burdett braved intense anti-aircraft fire in successfully completing a flak suppression raid in support of a large strike force attacking a high priority military target. The successful accomplishment of the mission and the following safe departure of the strike force from the heavily defended target area are attributed to the effective accomplishment of Colonel Burdett's vital supporting role.”
Last Combat Mission
After more than 35 combat missions, Col Burdett’s last mission on November 18, 1967 was fateful. It was a Commando Club radar-assisted attack on Phuc Yen Airfield north of Hanoi, utilizing a new, recently emplaced TSQ-81 radar station at Lima Site 85 in northeastern Laos, about 100 miles from Hanoi. This radar helped the USAF to be able to bomb targets which were cloud-covered and could not be visually attacked, a problem during the monsoon reason when weather frequently frustrated Operation Rolling Thunder attacks on targets in North Vietnam. The mission of November 18 was only the third time the 388th TFW had flown a mission under Lima Site 85 control.
Four strike flights, 16 F-105s, and a Wild Weasel flight of four F-105s (two F-model Weasels and two D-model strikers) composed the strike force tasked to hit Phuc Yen that day. Approaching the target, warnings were issued from an EC-121 College Eye early warning aircraft for enemy MiG fighters active. These warnings came at the same time communications between the strike force and Lima Site 85 were taking place and radio comms got garbled. A pair of Mig-21s screamed in fast from behind to make a hit and run attack on the Wild Weasel flight which was just beginning to work to suppress the surface-to-air-missile (SAM) sites in the area in advance of the strikers.
Two F-105s were hit by AA-2 Atoll heat-seeking missiles at 0802, fracturing the Wild Weasel flight. The lead, Waco 01, a 44th TFS F-105F flown by Maj Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. and EWO Capt Edward W. “Tiny” Lehnhoff, Jr. was lost with both crewmen MIA. Waco 04, an F-105D flown by 469th TFS pilot Lt Col William N. Reed, was badly damaged and struggled to reach the relative safety of Laos where he stood a better chance of being rescued. The other two aircraft in the Weasel flight escorted him - Lt Col Reed made it to Laos, ejected from his stricken aircraft and was subsequently rescued by combat search and rescue forces.
Scant minutes later, the strikers were nearing the target when the SAMs started firing, with no fear of attack or retaliation from the Weasels. The second strike flight, Vegas Flight, received a barrage of SA-2 Guideline missiles hurled from the ground, and up through the cloud deck below the Thunderchiefs. At 0808, the third SAM aimed at the flight directly hit Vegas 01, an F-105D flown by 469th TFS pilot Maj Leslie J. Hauer, who ejected seconds after the hit with his aircraft afire and descending. A good chute was observed and his beeper sounded as he slowly descended toward the undercast below. Reaching it, he was lost from sight, and over a populated area where no rescue could be attempted, another pilot MIA.
Col Burdett flew as Garage 03 in the third strike flight in the formation led by the 469th TFS commander, Lt Col William C. Decker. Another SAM barrage was fired at this flight and at 0809, Col. Burdett’s F-105D, 62-4221, was hit by the searing fragments of a detonated 430-lb high explosive warhead of an SA-2 SAM about 18 miles west of Hanoi.
Garage 04, Capt Arthur A. Powell reported what happened: “…After Wager Control gave us the code word ‘Hillside’, we closed formation for the bomb run. Shortly thereafter we saw several SAMs burst below and in front of the flight. At least one SAM passed through the flight. Garage 03 was hit during this barrage and began a nearly level right turn. I saw fire coming from his fuselage in the ventral fin area. He remained in a stable, nearly level attitude and I informed him that the fire was worsening, that his tail hook was down and that we should climb. He attempted to light his A/B but only the top speed brake petal opened. Next, he entered a mild porpoise maneuver and stated that he was losing control. His aircraft next entered a wings-level descent. Almost immediately his aircraft flipped over and began an out-of-control spin. I did not see Col. Burdett eject. Nor did I hear a beeper or further radio transmission from him. I did see through a small hole in the clouds what I believe to be his aircraft impact the ground. I orbited the area about three or four times and departed after linking up with Hatchet 3 and 4, the last flight in the strike force.”
In the aftermath of this awful mission, some pilots wondered if Col Burdett’s last efforts after his aircraft was hit and before it went out of control were to try and reach the coast and get over the sea to dump his bombs, in accordance with the ROE which he had reviewed with his pilots.
Fate as Prisoner of War
Initially listed as MIA with the other three, the first indication of his fate came on November 24, when the Japanese communist newspaper Aka Hata (Red Flag) reported his capture by North Vietnam. Hanoi released a copy of Col. Burdett’s military ID card which was carried by the Associated Press in a wire photo published in newspapers in the last week of November, 1967.
Subsequent to his shootdown, Col. Burdett was awarded a second Legion of Merit: “…for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, from 1 August 1967 to 18 November 1967. In this important assignment, the leadership, exemplary foresight, and ceaseless efforts consistently demonstrated by Colonel Burdett resulted in significant contributions to the success of Air Force jet fighter aircraft operations over North Vietnam. As commander of this important Air Force organization, he contributed immeasurably to the furtherance of United States policy in Southeast Asia. The superior initiative, outstanding leadership, and personal endeavor displayed by Colonel Burdett reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”
US sources gathered evidence sufficient to change his status from MIA to captured by January 15, 1968. During the two- month period he was classified as MIA, he was promoted to Brigadier General, technically making him the highest-ranking American military officer captured by North Vietnam during the war. As a senior ranking officer and commander of a tactical fighter wing with knowledge of war plans in Europe and Southeast Asia, he was at a minimum a potentially lucrative captive for the enemy.
But Edward B. Burdett did not appear when American POWs were released by Hanoi in early 1973. Over a year later, on March 6, 1974, Hanoi returned Brig Gen Burdett’s remains. On April 2 the US received “conclusive evidence that he had died in captivity on the day he was shot down,” as the North Vietnamese allegedly claimed he had succumbed to injuries from the anti-aircraft artillery fire which reportedly hit his aircraft, according to one source. This reported 85mm AAA claim contradicted what flight members witnessed in the SAM barrage that struck Garage Flight.
It’s still unclear if Shifty truly died because of injuries incurred from the SAM detonation, and/or in ejection from an out-of-control aircraft and/or if the North Vietnamese mistreated him in some way, e.g. he was attacked by civilians or militia while descending in his parachute or on the ground, and/or was denied life-saving medical care and/or from torture by the enemy.
This mysterious fate at the hands of communist forces was often the case with American servicemen killed or missing. Remains of these personnel are periodically returned with little if any consistent explanation of the details of their demise. That Hanoi released a copy of Brig Gen Burdett’s ID card shortly after his shootdown suggests the North Vietnamese knew exactly what happened to him, when and where it happened, but chose not to share all of what they knew, at least for some time.
Epilogue
Sadly, none of the four men shot down on this disastrous mission over North Vietnam and classified as MIA came back alive. Promoted while in MIA status, Col Dardeau and Lt Col Lenhoff were accounted for on February 3, 1988; Col Hauer on January 31, 1991.
Brigadier General Burdett was buried at Arlington National Cemetery at Section 11, Grave 115-2. He is honored on the Vietnam Memorial Wall, on Panel 30E, Line 13.
For his decades of honorable service to our country, General Burdett was awarded the Silver Star, Legion of Merit (with one bronze OLC), Distinguished Flying Cross (with four bronze OLC), Soldier’s Medal, Purple Heart, Air Medal (one silver OLC), Prisoner of War Medal and many other awards and decorations. He was also awarded pilot wings by the Bolivian Government.
On this National Former POW Recognition Day, we remember a former Redhawk, Brig. Gen. Edward B. Burdett, and all our POWs from all the nation’s wars. Whether they survived their captivity in enemy hands or did not, all served and sacrificed for our freedom.
*Note: The other four 35th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron pilots who received the Air Medal in April, 1945 for their F-5E Photo Lightning work in China were Maj. Albert J. McChristy, Capt. Joseph R. Sipper, 1st Lt. Sterling A. Barrow and 1st Lt. Richard B. Schwyn.