Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. Lt Burns lied about his age, with his father's permission and joined the AAF at 18 instead of 19. Flew all his missions, between Apr 44 and June 44. He was just 20 years old when he completed them and the youngest first pilot to command a B-17, (at the time). 30 x missions. On one mission had to land out of fuel on a Spitfire Fighter base near coast; on another brake hydraulics shot out resulting in end of runway crash; on another elevator controls jammed by enemy fire resulting in a hairy landing; and finally a mid-air collision on 29th mission: bailed out, landing in water of Thames estuary off Canvey Island on 19th June 1944 having collided with another plane on return from Zudausques, France mission on return over Gravesend, Thames Estuary, England. Rescued from the water by Royal Marines.



Had swapped position with Fred Kauffman to allow him more flight experience, a decision he rued for the rest of his life, had he been in position would have been killed in the collision.



Awards: DFC, AM (4OLC), Distinguished Unit Citation, WWII Victory, EAME.

He afterwards qualified as an MD.