THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrances from Jeannie Darling and your daughter Kathy are especially poignant. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us...

Senior Master Sergeant Earl Kenneth Burns Jr., Served with Headquarters, Central Ground Electronics Engineering Installation Agency, Headquarters Command, United States Air Force.

Mr. Burns,
It saddens me that I never had the honor and joy of meeting you. Your wife (Ma Burns) and children have been a large part of my life. I feel like I know you through them. Mrs. Burns is like a mother to me, and I love her deeply. I know that you would be proud of your children. Your children have grown to become responsible adults, but more importantly, kind, loving, and courageous human beings. I love them, and I love you.

Jeannie Darling

Dear SMS Earl Burns,
Thank you for your service as a Fixed Wing Crewman. It is important for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

On the evening of November 26, 1966, a Douglas U.S. Air Force C-47D (# 44-76574), a wing transport aircraft assigned to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, departed from Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon on a nighttime administrative flight with 25 Air Force personnel headed to Korat Royal Thai AFB in Thailand. The C-47 made a normal take off and climbout. About five minutes after takeoff, the aircrew advised Tan Son Nhut they had an engine problem and were returning to that airfield. The pilot radioed radar control that he had a rough #1 engine. He received a vector course to steer. Shortly thereafter, the pilot reported he had to feather #1. Soon he reported the field in sight and was cleared for a straight in, downwind approach. Next he called the control tower reporting he could not get his landing gear fully down and locked. A witness later said only the left gear was down. This gear trouble undoubtedly added severely to his unsymmetrical drag and control problem. The tower first saw the plane turning slowly left away from the field at very low altitude, then stall, wing over and suddenly plunge to earth. Witnesses observed a steep, violent, crushing impact in a rice paddy followed instantly by a fierce fire. The time was about 1850 hours. Twenty-five airmen were lost in the crash, including CAPT Karl D. Sobolik, A2C Lawrence A. Barcklow, A2C Troy Bealin, A1C Hardy L. Bell, SMS Earl K. Burns Jr., MSGT Dieter W. Dietz, 1LT Charles L. Faulkner, 1LT Harold L. Graves, LTC Carroll G. Hogeman, CAPT John R. Humphrey, CAPT Edward L. Kerr, MSGT Marchelle R. Lanzone, MSGT William A. Lynch Jr., LTC Norman W. McRobie, A1C James E. Oxley, 1LT Adrian F. Purnell, 1LT Alden L. Riley, CWO Alan R. Steffen, SSGT Walter Suhar, MAJ Joe H. Trickey Jr., TSGT Jesse L. Waltman, CAPT James E. Webb, LTC Paul R. West, SSGT Bobby L. Williams, and SSGT Dennis P. Wright. [Taken from togetherweserved.com and aviation-safety.net]