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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Roy Burkhart

Roy Burkhart was born in 1920 in Monte Vista, Colorado and graduated from Sergeant High School in Monte Vista. He attended Colorado Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Colorado State University) for two and a half years. He took primary and advanced civilian pilot training in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, and was an Army Air Forces aviation cadet in January, 1941. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant at Foster Field, Texas in September 1942.

He flew 49 bombardment missions from Guadalcanal in the Solomons in 1943 and 1944 while assigned to the 13th Army Air Force. His missions included the sinking of a Japanese destroyer in a skip bombing attack at night (June 1943). In May 1945 he was a Douglas A-26 squadron commander with the 5th Army Air Force in the Pacific. Later he was the commander of an F-111 Cat III fighter weapons wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada (1966 to 1970). He retired on April 1, 1970. His awards include the Silver Star, Air Medal (nine Oak Leaf Clusters) Air Force Commendation and Meritorious Service Medals. As a civilian pilot he is ATP (airline transport pilot) rated for the Lear jet and Saber Liner. He was a flight instructor, agricultural pilot, and corporate pilot.