He was married to Marjorie (Landrum) Burney, and they had a son (born after Burney was killed) named Rocke Weldon Burney.
He was the bombardier on B-17E #41-2456 assigned to the 5th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group, 9th Bombardment Squadron.
On January 17, 1942, Burney's plane participated in a mission to bomb enemy shipping at Manado, Celebes. The plane lost an engine during the bombing run but succeeded in destroying one large transport and damaging another. After leaving the target area the bombers were attacked by fifteen enemy fighters. In the ensuing engagement which lasted for fifty-five minutes, cannon and machine gun fire so damaged his plane that a landing was made at Kendari, where enemy planes strafed the field almost continuously for two days while repairs were being made, and three unsuccessful attempts were made to get the plane into the air. Upon being informed of enemy infiltration in the area, the crew destroyed the plane to prevent its seizure, and they were flown to safety by another aircraft. Burney was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.
On February 8, 1942, nine B-17E bombers departed Malang, Java to bomb a Japanese occupied airport at Kendari on the island of Celebes. While en route the formation was attacked by a swarm of Japanese fighters over the Java Sea. Burney's and another plane were shot down. He received the Purple Heart.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing.
He was the bombardier on B-17E #41-2456 assigned to the 5th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group, 9th Bombardment Squadron.
On January 17, 1942, Burney's plane participated in a mission to bomb enemy shipping at Manado, Celebes. The plane lost an engine during the bombing run but succeeded in destroying one large transport and damaging another. After leaving the target area the bombers were attacked by fifteen enemy fighters. In the ensuing engagement which lasted for fifty-five minutes, cannon and machine gun fire so damaged his plane that a landing was made at Kendari, where enemy planes strafed the field almost continuously for two days while repairs were being made, and three unsuccessful attempts were made to get the plane into the air. Upon being informed of enemy infiltration in the area, the crew destroyed the plane to prevent its seizure, and they were flown to safety by another aircraft. Burney was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.
On February 8, 1942, nine B-17E bombers departed Malang, Java to bomb a Japanese occupied airport at Kendari on the island of Celebes. While en route the formation was attacked by a swarm of Japanese fighters over the Java Sea. Burney's and another plane were shot down. He received the Purple Heart.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing.
He was married to Marjorie (Landrum) Burney, and they had a son (born after Burney was killed) named Rocke Weldon Burney.
He was the bombardier on B-17E #41-2456 assigned to the 5th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group, 9th Bombardment Squadron.
On January 17, 1942, Burney's plane participated in a mission to bomb enemy shipping at Manado, Celebes. The plane lost an engine during the bombing run but succeeded in destroying one large transport and damaging another. After leaving the target area the bombers were attacked by fifteen enemy fighters. In the ensuing engagement which lasted for fifty-five minutes, cannon and machine gun fire so damaged his plane that a landing was made at Kendari, where enemy planes strafed the field almost continuously for two days while repairs were being made, and three unsuccessful attempts were made to get the plane into the air. Upon being informed of enemy infiltration in the area, the crew destroyed the plane to prevent its seizure, and they were flown to safety by another aircraft. Burney was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.
On February 8, 1942, nine B-17E bombers departed Malang, Java to bomb a Japanese occupied airport at Kendari on the island of Celebes. While en route the formation was attacked by a swarm of Japanese fighters over the Java Sea. Burney's and another plane were shot down. He received the Purple Heart.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing.
He was the bombardier on B-17E #41-2456 assigned to the 5th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group, 9th Bombardment Squadron.
On January 17, 1942, Burney's plane participated in a mission to bomb enemy shipping at Manado, Celebes. The plane lost an engine during the bombing run but succeeded in destroying one large transport and damaging another. After leaving the target area the bombers were attacked by fifteen enemy fighters. In the ensuing engagement which lasted for fifty-five minutes, cannon and machine gun fire so damaged his plane that a landing was made at Kendari, where enemy planes strafed the field almost continuously for two days while repairs were being made, and three unsuccessful attempts were made to get the plane into the air. Upon being informed of enemy infiltration in the area, the crew destroyed the plane to prevent its seizure, and they were flown to safety by another aircraft. Burney was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.
On February 8, 1942, nine B-17E bombers departed Malang, Java to bomb a Japanese occupied airport at Kendari on the island of Celebes. While en route the formation was attacked by a swarm of Japanese fighters over the Java Sea. Burney's and another plane were shot down. He received the Purple Heart.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Texas.
Family Members
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