Edward Burke Burdett (March 10, 1921 – November 18, 1967) was a brigadier general in the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

who was one of the highest-ranked American military officers killed during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

. Burdett was the

388th Tactical Fighter Wing The 388th Fighter Wing (388FW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Fifteenth Air Force. The unit is stationed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Units 388th Operations Group (388 OG) *4th Fighter Squadron (4 FS) : T ...

commander. While flying an

F-105 Thunderchief The Republic F-105 Thunderchief is an American fighter-bomber that served with the United States Air Force from 1958 to 1984. Capable of Mach 2, it conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War. It ...

, he was hit by an

SA-2 The S-75 (Russian: С-75; NATO reporting name SA-2 Guideline) is a Soviet-designed, high-altitude air defence system. It is built around a surface-to-air missile with command guidance. Following its first deployment in 1957 it became one of the ...

surface-to-air missile and was forced to eject. Burdett was captured, but he died the same day on November 18, 1967. He was buried in

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...

References

https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/6753/EDWARD-B-BURDETT/. Edward Burdett unfortunately spent time at Hanoi Hilton. Remains returned to USA

External links

Edward B. Burdett
a
The POW Network
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burdett, Edward B. 1921 births 1967 deaths American Vietnam War pilots Brigadier generals Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) American people who died in prison custody Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Soldier's Medal Shot-down aviators United States Air Force generals United States Air Force personnel killed in the Vietnam War United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II United States Military Academy alumni Prisoners who died in Vietnamese detention American prisoners of war in the Vietnam War