Gerald Burton was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).
Gerald Burton was awarded the Air Medal.
Staff Sergeant Gerald Burton served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II Service started: 17 Feb 1942 Unit(s): 329th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group, Ninth Air Force Service ended: 1 Aug 1943
Staff Sergeant Gerald Burton was Killed in Action when shot down by Axis fighters over the Ionian Sea returning from Operation Tidal Wave during World War II.
Gerald was born 7 December 1919 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was the son of John Burton and Alice Duke.
He married Louise Pedigo 15 June 1941 in Tennessee.[1][2]
He passed away on 1 August 1943 when the B-24 Bomber, 'Hare's To Ya' 'Jo-Jo'S Special Delivery', was intercepted by Axis fighters off Kefalonia, Greece and presumed downed over the Ionian Sea. Gerald was a Gunner on the bomber as part of Operation Tidal Wave a low level bombing mission against the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for the mission.
1920 - Knoxville, Knox, Tennessee, United States.[3]
1930 - District 15, Liberty, Georgia, United States.[4]
Find A Grave: Memorial #56288261 - Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England
Find A Grave: Memorial #13616626 - Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, USA
↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SP45-JP3 : accessed 4 January 2021), G C Burton in household of John F Burton, District 15, Liberty, Georgia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 93, sheet 2A, line 40, family 31, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2260; FHL microfilm 2,341,994.
The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; Draft Registration Cards for Tennessee, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 41. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Ancestry Record 2238 #201288865
"United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8LB-M94 : 5 December 2014), Gerald C Burton, enlisted 17 Feb 1942, Ft Oglethorpe, Georgia, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
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