RICHARD F. BURNS, JR., LCDR, USN
Richard Burns, Jr. '68
Lucky Bag
From the 1968 Lucky Bag:
RICHARD FRANCIS BURNS, JR.
"Burnsie" mastered the many challenges presented by life at USNA after a year at the University of Washington. Never one to find academics the ideal way to spend an evening, Dick none the less, proved to the Engineering Department that he could successfully survive their persistent attacks.
Dick was a welcome addition to intramural football, basketball and especially Softball where he demonstrated his ability as a team player and an energetic competitor. Even though he kept busy with athletic and academic endeavors, Dick still found time to command the company during the first set and to serve on the Ring Dance Committee.
With his warm personality and fun-loving attitude, Burnsie was always available for a good time, except on those mysterious weekends in which he disappeared to Murray Hill, New Jersey.
There's no mystery as to Burnsie's goal after graduation, however, and that's through the Pensacola pipeline to Phantoms.
Richard was a member of the 3rd set of 10th Company Leadership.
RICHARD FRANCIS BURNS, JR.
"Burnsie" mastered the many challenges presented by life at USNA after a year at the University of Washington. Never one to find academics the ideal way to spend an evening, Dick none the less, proved to the Engineering Department that he could successfully survive their persistent attacks.
Dick was a welcome addition to intramural football, basketball and especially Softball where he demonstrated his ability as a team player and an energetic competitor. Even though he kept busy with athletic and academic endeavors, Dick still found time to command the company during the first set and to serve on the Ring Dance Committee.
With his warm personality and fun-loving attitude, Burnsie was always available for a good time, except on those mysterious weekends in which he disappeared to Murray Hill, New Jersey.
There's no mystery as to Burnsie's goal after graduation, however, and that's through the Pensacola pipeline to Phantoms.
Richard was a member of the 3rd set of 10th Company Leadership.
Loss
From Aviation Safety:
Lieutenant Cdr. Richard Burns was Killed 7 Dec 1976 flying F-4J BuNo 153875 from the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43). Aircraft came down in the Western Pacific. RIO, Lt.JG M. Checchio, ejected safely and was rescued.
According to contemporary reports the F-4J suffered the loss of an afterburner on launch, and both crewmen ejected safely. Although the rescue helicopter was on scene 18 seconds later, by the time the SAR helicopter's rescue swimmer was in the water, the pilot was seen to have been dragged under the surface by his parachute.
Other Information
From Find A Grave:
I want to post my condolences to the family of LtCdr Burns. I was the SAR swimmer on duty that day flying starboard delta with HC-1, and was on scene during the recovery. My prayers go out to his family. We did all we could to save him. God Bless. Benjamin Luera, November 23, 2019
The aircraft belonged to Fighter Squadron (VF) 191, but this Find A Grave posting indicates he was likely a member of CVW-15.
From researcher Kathy Franz: "Survivors were his wife and three children." Early newspaper reports of the loss did not reference family beyond Bridgett and the children.
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