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SSG Justin Davis
to remember
Burns, Ona W., 1LT.
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Contact Info
Home Town St. George
Date of Passing Jun 22, 1995
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Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
1LT ONA W BURNS WORKED AS A RAILROAD YARD BRAKEMAN BEFORE ENTERING THE SERVICE IN 1942 AS AN ENLISTED AIRPLANE MECHANIC AND SERVED UNTIL 30 AUGUST 1943 WHEN HE WAS COMMISIONED AS A 2LT. HE TRAINED AS A TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANE PILOT AND SERVED WITH FLIGHT "A" OF THE 1ST EMERGENCY RESCUE SQUADRON OVERSEAS UNTIL 22 APRIL 1945. UPON RETURNING STATESIDE HE WAS STATIONED AT BOCA RATON FLORIDA AS AN AIR SEA RESCUE PILOT. 1LT BURNS WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE AAF ON 8 JULY 1945. HE PASSED AWAY IN TEXAS ON 22 JUNE 1995.
On August 20, 1942, Twelfth Air Force was activated at Bolling AAF, Maryland. On September 23, 1942. Brigadier General Jimmy Doolittle formally assumed 12th AF command with Colonel Hoyt S. Vandenberg as chief of staff. Barely four months after it was conceived, 12th AF made its first contributions to World War II. When D-Day for the invasion of North Africa (Operation Torch) arrived on November 8, 1942