GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY
‘As a Squadron Commander over a period of five months, this officer has completed twelve operations of a special nature in France. His determination and skill have undoubtedly set an example which has been emulated by other members of his squadron. He has played no small part in contributing to the war effort in France, and has inspired his whole squadron by his good leadership and the fine example he has set.’
From November 1944, Burnett served on the Air Staff of H.Q. Bomber Command, but he kept his eye-in, obtaining his Glider’s Licence in December 1945.
Palestine and Greece 1947-49 - ‘Mention’
Having been seconded to B.O.A.C. after the War, when he piloted flying boats on the Far East route and was once compelled to divert to Communist-held Hainan Island, Burnett served on the Air Staff in Jerusalem at a time when terrorist attacks on R.A.F. installations were at their height. He was then posted to the R.A.F. Mission in Greece during the civil war.
He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 29 June 1948, refers) Polar flights 1953-55 - A.F.C.
Having next been appointed C.O. of the Flying Wing at the R.A.F. Flying College at Manby, Burnett was employed on the Aries Programme and piloted aircraft on North Pole navigational flights in July 1953 and twice in May 1955. His second flight in the latter month, when he was accompanied by student navigators Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. North, U.S.A.A.F. and Squadron Leader J. E. Tipton, achieved the fastest time to date, a round trip of 2,400 miles undertaken in a little under five hours.
During the course of an earlier flight, the air speed indicator of his Hastings iced up but a resourceful Flight Engineer rectified the problem and they proceeded to the Pole, where Burnett dropped a miniature bottle of Scotch with a Union flag attached.
He was awarded the A.F.C. Suez Crisis 1956 - “Mention”
In July 1956, Burnett took command of No. 148 Squadron, and he was still ‘working up’ his force of Valiants when ordered to Malta on the advent of the Suez Crisis. He subsequently led the first force of R.A.F. V-bombers to drop bombs in anger, namely a strike against Almaza airfield at Suez.
As C.O. Burnett had trained his aircrew to operate from a height of 40,000 feet, but on the night of the first attacks - on 31 October 1956 - he was ordered to drop to 30,000 feet. His obituary in The Daily Telegraph takes up the story:
‘As the crews of No. 148 pressed on to Almaza they encountered a jet stream at 30,000 feet as well as problems connected with their radar bombing system, which made the attack difficult. Burnett was first to drop his 11 1,000lb. bombs, followed by the others. But the raid was only partially successful.
When he returned to Malta, he protested at the order to bomb from an inappropriate height, and was cleared to attack from 40,000 feet on subsequent raids. The following night he and his men attacked Fayid airfield. His Bomb Aimer dropped an accurate flare and, on a second approach, placed the bombs in the centre of the airfield. Three nights later Burnett bombed the barracks; the ceasefire soon followed.
He was mentioned in despatches and advanced to Group Captain in July 1957. Senior Command - Aden - “Mention”
Appointments as O.C. R.A.F. Marham and Air Adviser to the U.K. High Commissioner in New Delhi followed, so too his promotion to Air Commodore in July 1963. He next joined Air Headquarters, Aden in October 1996, where plans were afoot for British withdrawal in the following year.
Owing to the deteriorating internal security situation, it was a difficult assignment, it being essential that the region’s infrastructure be maintained as our military presence was steadily withdrawn. In the event a secure and stable handover was effected, largely thanks to the ‘ever-dependable’ Burnett.
He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 23 January 1968, refers). Not yet done - O.B.E.
On leaving the service in January 1968, Burnett tried his hand at corporate employment but having to go ‘cap in hand to company executives’ proved a step too far.
Happily, he found more rewarding employment as Secretary of the Unit Trust Association, and it was in this capacity that he added the O.B.E. to his extensive list of accolades in 1980.
The Air Commodore, an expert fly fisherman who maintained a rod on the Itchen until his 90th year, died at Haslemere, Surrey, in September 2006.
Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s D.S.O. warrant and M.I.D. certificates (2), dated 8 June 1944 and 29 June 1948, and French Croix de Guerre certificate of award, dated 11 April 1945.
Together with a complete run of the recipient’s R.A.F. Pilot’s Flying Log Books (4), covering the periods July 1937 to August 1940; September 1940 to October 1949; January 1950 to October 1956, with three pasted down ‘Polar Certificates’ for flights over the North Pole in July 1953 and twice in May 1955, together with annotated maps; and October 1956 to April 1963, with a few civil entries added in the period 1990-92; together with a Civil GA Form 24 Flying Log Book for work with B.O.A.C. in the period 1946-47 and a quantity of congratulatory letters in respect of promotions, together with a copy of The Best of Lives.
www.dnw.co.uk
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