He entered the service on 17 June 1942 from Des Moines, Iowa (Enlisted Service #: 17 096 947). He enlisted as a Private in the Air Corps; he had four years of high school education, was single, without dependents and his civilian occupation was listed as: "Clerks, general office".

We have him listed as flying as a Co-Pilot on the Elmira Mission on 06 June 1944.

John was killed near Eindhoven, Holland during Operation Market-Garden. He was the Co-pilot of C-47A 43-15302 which was flying in Position #35. The MACR #9904 has statements from other 84th TCS personnel flying in the same serial (A-30). Lt. Jesse Parrish provided the following: "I was flying position # 38 on Serial A-30 of the Market mission, at approximately fifteen (15) miles from LZ_W I noticed flames spurt from # 35. # 35 seemed to proceed on course in formation for a minute or two, then left formation in a slow descending turn to the right. Flames were much more noticeable now, and just off the ground, it appeared that he lost one of his wings and then nosed straight into the ground appearing to explode on crashing. I saw no personnel leave # 35."

Lt Burke is also memorialized on the Plaques in the All Saints church in Ramsbury; the plaques were placed there by the 437th TCG Association.