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Service Details |
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Last Rank
Colonel
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Last Primary AFSC/MOS
1021A-Pilot
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Last AFSC Group
Aircrew
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Primary Unit
1966-1973, POW North Vietnam
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Service Years
1951 - 1977
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Personal Details
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Home State
Texas | |
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Year of Birth
1929 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Burns, Donald Ray, Col USAF(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Contact Info
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Home Town
Mineral Wells, Texas |
Last Address
Williamsburg, Virginia
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Date of Passing
Apr 26, 1996 |
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Location of Interment
Arlington National Cemetery - Arlington, Virginia |
Wall/Plot Coordinates
Section 8 Site 8303 |
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Last Known Activity
He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on March 24, 1951, and served in TX, FL, NY, Japan, GA, SC, England, France, NM, Vietnam, AL, and VA before his retirement from the Air Force on May 1, 1977.
He spent 2,285 days as a POW in North Vietnam.
His Silver Star citation:
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Colonel Donald Ray Burns (AFSN: FR-44702), United States Air Force, for gallantry and intrepidity in action in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force during December 1966, while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. Ignoring international agreements on treatment of prisoners of war, the enemy resorted to mental and physical cruelties to obtain information, confessions and propaganda materials. Colonel Burns resisted their demands by calling upon his deepest inner strengths in a manner which reflected his devotion to duty and great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Action Date: Dec-66
Service: Air Force
Rank: Colonel
Division: Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)
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Other Comments:
Sources:
http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1036
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38962068
https://www.pownetwork.org/bios/b/b107.htm
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/24160
https://www.ancestry.com
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From Year
1963 |
To Year
1963 |
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Image
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Aircraft/Missile Information
Model North American F-100D Super Sabre
Length 49.51 ft | 15.09 m
Width 38.75 ft | 11.81 m
Height 16.24 ft | 4.95 m
Engine(s) 1 x Pratt & Whitney J 57-P21 turbojet with afterburning generating 17,000lbs of thrust.
Empty Weight 20,999 lbs | 9,525 kg
MTOW 34,833 lbs | 15,800 kg
Max Speed 864 mph | 1,390 km/h | 751 kts
Max Range 1,995 miles | 3,210 km
Ceiling 45,000 ft | 13,716 m | 8.5 miles
Climb Rate 16,000 ft/min (4,877 m/min)
Hardpoints 6
Armament 4 x 20mm cannons
External hardpoints for an additional 7,500lbs of ordnance including: Dumb Bombs, Drop Tanks and Rocket Pods.
Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* F-100A - Initial Production Model
* F-100B - Proposed Mach 2 / nuclear-capable fighter-bomber; would go on to become the YF-107 prototype series.
* F-100C - Fighter-Bomber Variant with improvements; inflight refueling capability; more powerful engine.
* F-100D - Fighter-Bomber Variant with improvements; fitted with ECm equipment and low-altitude bombing system.
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