Arthur W. Burer

Art Burer enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on June 20, 1951, and was trained in aircraft maintenance, serving as an aircraft maintenance technician at Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C., until he entered Officer Candidate School in February 1957. Staff Sergeant Burer graduated from OCS and was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force on September 20, 1957, and he then completed pilot training and was awarded his pilot wings at Laredo AFB, Texas, in October 1958. He was as an aircraft maintenance officer and branch chief with the 3750th Technical Training Group , followed by Basic Instructor School at Craig AFB, Alabama. Captain Burer served as a flight instructor and academic instructor with the 3641st Pilot Training Squadron and the 3640th Pilot Training Group at Laredo AFB, Texas. He completed Tactical Reconnaissance Training ant RF-101C Voodoo combat crew training, followed by service as an RF-101C pilot with the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Misawa AB, Japan, from October 1965 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam while on temporary duty to South Vietnam on March 21, 1966. He was immediately captured and taken as a Prisoner of War.