“Getting old isn’t for sissies.” - Ralph E. Burton
Over the past 10 years of having this blog active, I’ve often asked family members or others to contribute a story of their person who served in WW2. In particular I’ve asked for stories about the men of Strong DD-467 or DD-758, but I’m always open to anyone who sees the story of their family member as worthy of being told. That said, my friend Bob Burton (and DNA relative we found) decided to help me tell the story of his father Ralph E. Burton, a veteran of the Army Air Corps. Below is the story of Ralph told by Bob with a little creative editing from myself. And as Bob told me, his Dad like most of the WW2 vets who saw battle, are relunctant to speak of their experiences. We have to let their records and WW2 history sites tell the story.
Ralph E. Burton was born in Paris, Kentucky on January 22nd, 1924 to Frank and Nettie Burton. His father was a railroad engineer for the L & N (Louisville and Nashville) railroad. Ralph graduated from Paris High School in Bourbon County in may of 1942. On January 24th of 1943 he enlisted in the service of the United States Army Air Corp. Ralph mustered in at Fort Benjamin Harrison northeast of the city of Indianapolis in Marion County. After, he was assigned to Keesler Air Force Base northwest of Biloxi, Mississippi. The next step was an assignment to pre-flight training as a bombardier/navigator at the former Selmon Field just east of Monroe, Louisiana. Upon graduation on February 5th, 1944 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. On November 15th, 1944 he received his assignment as a crew member of a B-25 J Mitchel Medium Bomber (tail number 44-29545) at the former Fairfield-SUISun Army Base, outside of Fairfield, California. The real work was to begin here, as he received an assignment marked “Secret”, which read as follows:
“Except as may be necessary in the transaction of official business, individuals are prohibited from discussing their overseas destination even by ship number. They will not file safe arrival telegrams with commercial agencies while en route and at domestic or overseas destinations.”
Ralph received orders to report to the base at Luzon, Philippines with the 13th Air Force, 70th Bombardier Squadron, 42nd, Bomb Group. On the 12th of June, 1945 he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
Ralph’s service record reads as follows: “Navigator/Bombardier B-25 Medium Bomber, navigated aircraft over land and sea by pilotage, dead reckoning, celestial and radio navigation to reach objective at a pre-determined time without departing from intended track, maintained a flight log and airplot and kept crew informed as to aircraft’s position relative to ground position. Located, identified and bombed assigned targets from bombardment aircraft. Required to have a thorough knowledge of operation and maintenance of bombsights, all bombing equipment on bomber and all types of bombs and fuses. Completed 44 combat missions in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre of Operations with the 13th Air Force. Has 284 combat hours, total flight time 840 hours.”
I was curious as to the missions of the 13th and did a little digging on line. From the 13th AF - 13th Air Force WWII website, I found the following information. The 13th was formed December 14th, 1942 out of Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield in New Caledonia, South Pacific. They were specifically a combat unit of airmen also called “Cactus Air Force” with duty in the Pacific Theater. Missions took them from the Solomon Islands all the way to the Philippines. In 1948 following the war the group moved to Okinawa. A move back to the Philippines occurred in 1949. They are a heavily decorated unit, receiving the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Campaigns they participated in during the war were: China Defensive, Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Northern Solomons, Eastern Mandates, Bismarck Archipelago, Western Pacific, Leyte, Luzon, Southern Philippines and the China Offensive.
Ralph was honorably discharged on the 8th of February, 1946. Upon returning to civilian life he enrolled in the University of Kentucky. He later met and married the late Jane Pridemore (passed in 1998) in 1947. Ralph and Jane had 3 children: Bob (my contributor) was born in 1950. Next came sister Betty Jo in 1952 (passed in 2011) and lastly brother Steve in 1959. Ralph retired from his job with the State of Kentucky in 1979. According to Bob, he was recently recognized by Bluegrass Care Navigators for being a WW2 veteran. At age 98 he resides in an assisted living facility here in Lexington.
For more information on the 13th Air Force, the 70th Bombadier Squadron or the 42nd Bombardment Group, click on the website and book links below:
Army Air Corps Museum
42nd Bombardment Group
Hyperwar: US Army in World War II
Books:
Thirteenth Air Force Story
Bombs Away, A History of the 70th Bombardment Squadron in Early World War II
Thanks, Bob for sharing your father with us!
- Tammi
UPDATE: Mr. Burton passed away at 10:10 pm on May 4th, 2022. Rest well, Ralph.
Over the past 10 years of having this blog active, I’ve often asked family members or others to contribute a story of their person who served in WW2. In particular I’ve asked for stories about the men of Strong DD-467 or DD-758, but I’m always open to anyone who sees the story of their family member as worthy of being told. That said, my friend Bob Burton (and DNA relative we found) decided to help me tell the story of his father Ralph E. Burton, a veteran of the Army Air Corps. Below is the story of Ralph told by Bob with a little creative editing from myself. And as Bob told me, his Dad like most of the WW2 vets who saw battle, are relunctant to speak of their experiences. We have to let their records and WW2 history sites tell the story.
Ralph E. Burton was born in Paris, Kentucky on January 22nd, 1924 to Frank and Nettie Burton. His father was a railroad engineer for the L & N (Louisville and Nashville) railroad. Ralph graduated from Paris High School in Bourbon County in may of 1942. On January 24th of 1943 he enlisted in the service of the United States Army Air Corp. Ralph mustered in at Fort Benjamin Harrison northeast of the city of Indianapolis in Marion County. After, he was assigned to Keesler Air Force Base northwest of Biloxi, Mississippi. The next step was an assignment to pre-flight training as a bombardier/navigator at the former Selmon Field just east of Monroe, Louisiana. Upon graduation on February 5th, 1944 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. On November 15th, 1944 he received his assignment as a crew member of a B-25 J Mitchel Medium Bomber (tail number 44-29545) at the former Fairfield-SUISun Army Base, outside of Fairfield, California. The real work was to begin here, as he received an assignment marked “Secret”, which read as follows:
“Except as may be necessary in the transaction of official business, individuals are prohibited from discussing their overseas destination even by ship number. They will not file safe arrival telegrams with commercial agencies while en route and at domestic or overseas destinations.”
Ralph received orders to report to the base at Luzon, Philippines with the 13th Air Force, 70th Bombardier Squadron, 42nd, Bomb Group. On the 12th of June, 1945 he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
Ralph’s service record reads as follows: “Navigator/Bombardier B-25 Medium Bomber, navigated aircraft over land and sea by pilotage, dead reckoning, celestial and radio navigation to reach objective at a pre-determined time without departing from intended track, maintained a flight log and airplot and kept crew informed as to aircraft’s position relative to ground position. Located, identified and bombed assigned targets from bombardment aircraft. Required to have a thorough knowledge of operation and maintenance of bombsights, all bombing equipment on bomber and all types of bombs and fuses. Completed 44 combat missions in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre of Operations with the 13th Air Force. Has 284 combat hours, total flight time 840 hours.”
I was curious as to the missions of the 13th and did a little digging on line. From the 13th AF - 13th Air Force WWII website, I found the following information. The 13th was formed December 14th, 1942 out of Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield in New Caledonia, South Pacific. They were specifically a combat unit of airmen also called “Cactus Air Force” with duty in the Pacific Theater. Missions took them from the Solomon Islands all the way to the Philippines. In 1948 following the war the group moved to Okinawa. A move back to the Philippines occurred in 1949. They are a heavily decorated unit, receiving the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Campaigns they participated in during the war were: China Defensive, Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Northern Solomons, Eastern Mandates, Bismarck Archipelago, Western Pacific, Leyte, Luzon, Southern Philippines and the China Offensive.
Ralph was honorably discharged on the 8th of February, 1946. Upon returning to civilian life he enrolled in the University of Kentucky. He later met and married the late Jane Pridemore (passed in 1998) in 1947. Ralph and Jane had 3 children: Bob (my contributor) was born in 1950. Next came sister Betty Jo in 1952 (passed in 2011) and lastly brother Steve in 1959. Ralph retired from his job with the State of Kentucky in 1979. According to Bob, he was recently recognized by Bluegrass Care Navigators for being a WW2 veteran. At age 98 he resides in an assisted living facility here in Lexington.
For more information on the 13th Air Force, the 70th Bombadier Squadron or the 42nd Bombardment Group, click on the website and book links below:
Army Air Corps Museum
42nd Bombardment Group
Hyperwar: US Army in World War II
Books:
Thirteenth Air Force Story
Bombs Away, A History of the 70th Bombardment Squadron in Early World War II
Thanks, Bob for sharing your father with us!
- Tammi
UPDATE: Mr. Burton passed away at 10:10 pm on May 4th, 2022. Rest well, Ralph.
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