GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY D.S.O. London Gazette 23 March 1945. The original recommendation states:
‘This officer has commanded No. 138 Squadron with outstanding success for six months. During this period the Squadron was engaged in particularly intensive operations which were complicated by a re-arming programme which was extremely smoothly and expeditiously executed. Wing Commander Burnett is at all times keen to fly on operations, irrespective of the hazards involved. He has had combat with enemy fighters on several occasions and at all times has inspired all ranks in the Squadron by his personal example and devotion to duty. I strongly recommend him for the Distinguished Service Order.’
O.B.E. London Gazette 14 June 1980. D.F.C. London Gazette 22 October 1940. The original recommendation states:
‘This officer has carried out a total of 32 operational flights against the enemy during which he has completed 187 hours flying as a First Pilot.
Throughout these operations Flying Officer Burnett has shown outstanding ability, determination and devotion to duty, and has always pressed home his attacks in spite of enemy opposition.
He has carried out numerous operations and bombing attacks, both from low and high level, and in spite of his aircraft being hit on many occasions all his attacks have been notable for their thoroughness, coolness and complete disregard for personal safety.
This officer is always an enthusiastic volunteer for any task that is offered to him, and he has at all times set an excellent example to other pilots in his squadron.’
Covering remarks by Air Vice-Marshal A. T. Harris:
‘Strongly recommended. This officer is a fine type of Bomber Captain who does consistently excellent work.’ A.F.C. London Gazette 2 January 1956.
Wilfred Jasper Burnett was born at Fredericton, New Brunswick in November 1915 and was educated at Fort Francis High School, Ontario. Subsequently finding work on a dairy farm, he otherwise occupied himself by serving as a Trooper in the New Brunswick Dragoons; as part of his farming brief, he also learned to fly ski-equipped Gypsy Moths.
Working his passage to England in the summer of 1937, he obtained a short service commission in the Royal Air Force and was trained as a pilot. Having then qualified for his ‘Wings’, he was posted to No. 49 Squadron, a Hampden unit based at Scampton, on the outbreak of hostilities.
First tour: No. 49 Squadron, 1940 - D.F.C.
When Germany invaded Holland on 15 May 1940, the R.A.F. mounted its first bombing sortie east of the Rhine, around 100 aircraft being sent to Dortmund. Among them was Burnett’s Hampden of 49 Squadron, who realised, as he passed over Rotterdam - still burning from a recent visit by the Luftwaffe - that the “Phoney War” was truly over. Indeed he flew four more sorties before the end of the month, another dozen in June, and six in July, many of them to Germany and some of them of the low-level variety. Moreover, his flying log book entries often refer to intense or heavy flak, so too resultant damage and, on one occasion, an encounter with an enemy aircraft - ’50 rounds fired’.
In August, the same month in which his fellow 49 pilot “Babe” Learoyd won the V.C. for a suicidal attack on the Dortmund-Ems Canal, Burnett participated in the R.A.F.’s first strike on Berlin; he returned to the “Big City” on 23 September, his final operation in No. 49 Squadron, but not before completing a long haul - nine hour - trip to Politz, near Stettin on the 5th.
Tour expired, and his aircraft having been ‘hit on many occasions’, Burnett was awarded the D.F.C. Second tour: No. 408 Squadron, 1941-42 - recommended for a Bar to the D.F.C. In July 1941, Burnett reported as a Flight Commander to No. 408 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, another Hampden unit.
Thus ensued a second tour of operations, his targets over the coming months including Bremen, Hamburg, Hanover, Mannheim, in addition to a brace of perilous low-level daylight operations to Marquise and Lille. The latter was a great success, although owing to very intense flak, all of the attacking aircraft took hits.
However, on returning from his second strike on Hamburg in the early hours of 16 June 1942, he lost his way in bad weather and missed his base at Balderton. Perilously short of fuel, and in attempting to reach R.A.F. Leeming, his Hampden came to grief at Dalefoot on the Yorkshire Dales. Two of his crew were killed instantly and another died of his injuries. Burnett, himself severely injured, was taken down to a farm house and thence to Catterick Garrison Hospital.
He was recommend for a Bar to his D.F.C., the citation stating:
‘This officer has flown a total number of 44 sorties on operations involving some 264 hours flying. He has flown eight sorties involving 44 hours since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was posted to No. 408 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron in July of last year. Unfortunately this officer crashed returning from his last sortie and was injured.
On all occasions this officer has shown great determination and leadership. This has been directly responsible for the successful results he has obtained. In particular, on the 17th and 21st September 1941, he led a sub-formation of three Hampdens on daylight raids over Northern France, one on Marquise and one on Lille respectively. The raid on Lille was most successful. Although he encountered heavy flak and fighter opposition, this officer kept his section in perfect formation and returned without loss. At all times he has set a fine example by his courage and devotion to duty to the personnel of his Flight.’
The recommendation was unsuccessful.
Burnett was to remain in hospital for seven months, prior to joining the Air Staff of H.Q. No. 3 Group on his recovery in August 1942. He afterwards attended Staff College and held an appointment in No. 3 Group.
Third tour: No. 138 (Special Duties) Squadron, 1944 - D.S.O.
In early May 1944, after pulling a few strings to get back on operations, Burnett - who had been advanced to Wing Commander - was appointed C.O. of No. 138 (Special Duties) Squadron at Tempsford. Thus ensued a third operational tour, the whole in support of S.O. E. circuits in Occupied Europe.
His first such trip was to France on 16 June, in support of “Harry 2” and he returned to France on eleven further occasions, thus supply drops to, among other coded groups, “Ditcher 47”, “Hermit 8” and “Percy 19”; on the night of 6 July, he delivered four agents to “Donald 19”.
Burnett also made five trips to Belgium, relevant circuits numbering “Tybalt 19” on the night of 8 August, when his Halifax was attacked by an Me. 110 - the latter was claimed as a ‘damaged’ by his gunners; so, too, a brace of trips to Holland, including a supply drop to “Bertus 1”.
He was otherwise employed on missions to Scandinavia, making four trips to Denmark (e.g. “Tablejam 23”) and five to Norway to supply local Resistance groups - thus “Crupper 7”, “Saddle 10” and “Stirrup 3”; on two of these - on 4 October and 2 November - he dropped further agents.
He was awarded the D.S.O., in addition to being mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 8 June 1944, refers); so, too, the French Croix de Guerre, which distinction he received from General Koenig at the Hotel Les Invalides, Paris in April 1945. The recommendation stated:
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