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Personal info

Full name
BURNETT, Marion Emerald
Date of birth
6 April 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Ruple, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana
Hometown
Monroe, Quachita Parish, Louisiana

Military service

Service number
O-702763
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
363rd Fighter Squadron,
357th Fighter Group
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
13 September 1944
Place of death
15 miles east of Kassel, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
C 9 19

Immediate family

Members
James E Burnett (father)
Mary Emma Burnett (mother)
Jewel Burnett (sister)
J Raleigh Burnett (brother)
Marjorie Burnett (sister)
Reba Burnett (sister)
James D Burnett (brother)
Jimmie Marie Burnett (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
44-13745
Data
Type: P-51D
Nickname: Hi Phyl
Destination: Halle, Germany
Mission: Bomber escort
MACR: 8700

More information

Marion E Burnett graduated from Homer High School and attended Louisiana State University.

He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve on 15 July 1942 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana and was sent overseas in April 1944.

Statement of 1st Lt Charles E. Yeager, who flew in the same mission: "I was leading Blue Flight of Cement Squadron and Lt Burnett was flying in #4 position. We made a 360° turn and were positioning the flight for an attack on a Me 109. We went into a dive and lost Lt Burnett fifteen miles east of Kassel, Germany."

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.cdbudanderson.com/357thkia.htm, WWII Draft Card, 1930 US Census

Photo source: Merle Olmsted, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Classbook 43-K, Goodfellow Field, Texas