media-38629.jpeg UPL 38629 Lt. Harold R. Burt enlisted in Seattle, WA on 8 October 1942. Assigned to the 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, on 11 July 1944, he flew 14 combat missions. On his 15th, on 17 September 1944, suffering coolant trouble, Lt. Burt bailed out from 6,000 feet, NW of Antwerp, apparently into German hands.

Single and studying forestry, Lt. Burt earned two aerial victories. Aircraft included P-51C IV-K 42-103785.

A POW in Stalag 1 (N-1), Lt. Burt was repatriated back to the USA, returning to Bremerton, WA in June 1945. He then served with the 5th Air Force in Occupied Japan, in the 68th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group. He was killed 11 February 1947 in a P-51 crash while on a ferrying mission in Japan. 359th Fighter Group collection

Photo courtesy Paul D. Bruns.
Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association.
Posted by Janet Fogg, 359th Fighter Group Historian.