Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

COMBAT STORIES FROM World War II

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Clyde Burnette | 713th Squadron, 448th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force - Army Air Corps

10:23   |   It was their third mission over Berlin and they were heading home. Four German fighters pounced on the B-24 and it was engulfed in flame and going down. Clyde Burnette fought for consciousness as the other crew in the back of the plane bailed out. He woke in free fall with no idea how he had made it out, and soon he was in German custody. Everyone made it out of the plane except George "Danny" Daneau, the nose turret gunner, who went down with the aircraft.

More From Clyde Burnette

Videos ( 13 )
WWII
Korea
Cold War
  • Clyde Burnette  |  Cold War  |  Multiple Units  |  8:01

    Continuing his Air Force career after the war in Europe, Clyde Burnette became a flight engineer ferrying retired aircraft. After a short discharge and reenlistment, he served in the Berlin Airlift. When they asked for a position check on one flight near the East German border, they didn't get a position but they were told to immediately make a 180 degree turn.

  • Clyde Burnette  |  Cold War  |  Multiple Units  |  4:48

    After serving in World War II and the Korean War, Clyde Burnette was stationed in the Philippines as the Vietnam War began to heat up. He nearly got sent there but returned to the States to finish his career which included prepping aircraft for possible use in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

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