Burnett, Howard Reason

Date of birth:: June 5th, 1916 (New Eden-Comanche County/Kansas, United States)
Date of death:: August 4th, 1944 (Iwo Jima, Pacific Ocean)
Buried on:: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Nationality:: American

Biography

Service number 0-104595, United States Naval Reserve.
Howard Reason Burnett was born June 5th, 1916 in New Eden, Comanche County, Kansas, the son of Howard Reynolds Burnett and Marjorie Gaylord. He was educated in New Eden and in Coldwater High School, graduating in 1934. After three years of study at Kansas University, he started work with the Kansas Electric Power Co. in Lawrence, Kansas. December 9th, 1940 he enlisted in the US Naval Reserve for four years. On April 17th, 1941, this enlistment was upgraded to a commission as Aviation Ensign. He received his flght training at Fairfax Field, Kansas City and at Naval Air Station at Pensacola, Florida. November 15th he received his commission as Ensign and posted to the Advance Carrier Training Group, Pacific Fleet in San Diego, California.
May 1942, Howard Burnett left for the Pacific and saw action as pilot of a Dauntless divebomber. July 1943 he returned to the US for conversion training as fighter pilot.
During the battle for Guadalcanal, Burnett was a member of Scouting Squadron 10 (VS-10) of the so called Cactus Air Force, flying the Grumman Wildcat from Henderson Field. Formally, VS-10 was a squadron based on the U.S.S. Enterprise.
On August 4th, 1944, over Iwo Jima his Grumman Hellcat was hit by anti-aircraft fire causing his plane to crash burning into the sea. Since then he is reported as missing in action or buried at sea. His name was added to the “Tablets of the Missing” on the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu on Hawaii.
In addition to his personal awards he was authorized to wear the Presidential Unit Citation with Golden Star for his role in the fighting of the U.S.S. Enterprise and the 1st Marine Division.

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Air Medal (AM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant
Awarded on:: 1943

Citation:
"For meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight as pilot of a scout bomber, attached to a U. S. aircraft carrier, in combat against enemy Japanese naval forces in the battle for the Soloman Islands on November 14 and 15, 1942. In the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire and hostile fighter planes, Lieutenant (junior grade) Burnett participated in numerous attacks on major Japanese forces, scoring as direct heavy bomb hit on an enemy vessel. By his skill, courage, and aggressive fighting spirit he contributed in a large part to the success of our forces in that area."

Air Medal (AM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant
Unit:: U.S.S. Lexington
Awarded on:: 1944

Citation:
"For meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight as Division Leader attached to a U. S. S. LEXINGTON Air Group assigned to strike against enemy Japanese installations and in support of landings on an island of the Marianas Group from July 18 to 21, and on other flights against the Palau Islands, July 25 to 27, 1944. Leading his division in repeated bombing and low level strafing attacks on hostile beach defenses of designated landing areas in the face of rain squalls and heavy anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant Burnett contributed materially on our troop landings. On July 28 he led a bombing attack on an airstrip ar Palau which resulted in the destruction of four grounded enemy planes, and the next day flew in hazardously low through the formidable fire of a Japanese anti-aircraft installation and succeeded in putting it out of action. His cool courage and unflinching devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Second Air Medal received in the form of a golden star to be worn on the ribbon of the first Air Medal.

Silver Star Medal (SSM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant
Unit:: Pilot U.S.S. Enterprise

Citation:
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as pilot of a plane in a squadron attached to the USS Enterprise, during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle of Santa Cruz, on October 26, 1944. Leading an offensive search flight to the position of an enemy task force consisting of capital ships and screening vessels. Lieut. Burnette delivered a successful attack, in the face of severe enemy antiaircraft fire, to inflict heavy damage on an enemy heavy cruiser. Returning his damaged plane to the carrier base, he attacked and destroyed a Japanese torpedo bomber as it attacked the USS Hornet. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Awarded posthumously.