David A. Burchinal
Encyclopedia
David Arthur Burchinal (April 17, 1915 – August 17, 1990) was a United States Air Force
four star general who served as Deputy Commander in Chief, United States European Command
(DCINCEUR), from 1966 to 1973.
, in 1915. He received his bachelor of arts degree in 1938 from Brown University
in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He entered pilot training at Randolph Field, Texas, in June 1939, and graduated in 1940 with a commission as second lieutenant and his pilot wings. In June 1965 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws degree by Brown University. In August 1968 Burchinal was presented an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Utah
at England's Cambridge University.
His first military assignment was as an observer of Army field exercises at Fort Benning
, Georgia. He then became an instructor at Brooks Field
, Texas. From May 2, 1940, until July 28, 1941, Burchinal served successively as an engineering officer, transport pilot, test pilot, and assistant adjutant at the San Antonio Air Depot, Duncan Field, Texas.
He then assumed duties as aide to the commanding general of the Air Service Command at Patterson Field, Ohio, in Washington, D.C., and in London, England. In February 1943 Burchinal became operations officer and later, deputy commander for the 330th Bombardment Group at Alamogordo, New Mexico
, and Biggs Field, Texas.
Remaining at Biggs Field, he was reassigned in July 1943 to the XX Bomber Command as assistant A-3 for the 16th Bombardment Operations Training Wing. He was on this job only six months when in December 1943 he was named military air attaché at Ottawa, Canada.
Culminating six months of attaché duty, Burchinal returned to the U.S. in June 1944 for duties as Wing A-3 at Headquarters 313th Bombardment Wing, Peterson Field
, Colorado.
Six months later he was en route to the Pacific area as A-3 for-the 313th Bombardment Wing based on Tinian
. He later became deputy chief of staff for operations of the wing and in March 1945, became deputy A-3 Headquarters XXI Bomber Command on Guam in the Marianas Islands. In September 1945 General Burchinal became A-3 for the Twentieth Air Force
and, in November the same year, assumed duties as military analyst, U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey in Tokyo, Japan. One month later he returned to the United States.
He stayed with the War Department in Washington, D.C., until June 1946, working as research analyst, U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey, and then moved to Maxwell Field
, Alabama, as student and instructor on the first faculty of the Air War College
. He later became assistant chief of the air strategy division in the Air War College, a job he held until called back to Washington, D.C., in March 1949.
Upon his return to Washington, D.C., Burchinal became chief of the Program Analysis Division in the Directorate of Program Standards and Cost Control in the Office of the Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. In April 1951 he was transferred to the Air Force Council, also in Washington, D.C., as the first secretary of the unit.
Two years later, in May 1953, he went to Smoky Hill Air Force Base, Kansas, as commander of the 40th Bombardment Wing. In January 1954 he moved to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
, Arizona, as commander of the 43d Bombardment Wing. In August 1955 Burchinal became chief of staff for Headquarters Eighth Air Force
, Strategic Air Command, Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts.
In November 1958 Burchinal returned to Washington, D.C., as deputy director, J-3 (Operations), for the Joint Staff in the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Force and was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, as deputy director of plans in September 1960, advanced to the director of plans in January 1961, and became deputy chief of staff for plans and programs in August 1962. He held this position, which was later redesignated deputy chief of staff for plans and operations, until February 1964. He then became director of the Joint Staff
, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Burchinal assumed duties as deputy commander in chief, U.S. European Command in July 1966 and served in that capacity until he retired from the Air Force on March 1, 1973. He died on August 17, 1990.
Audio File: http://128.143.21.78/exhibits/tonkin/audio/NMCC_vn_01_10.wav
The Gulf of Tonkin, 1964
Perspectives from the Lyndon Johnson and National Military Command Center Tapes
Presidential Recordings Program
Miller Center of Public Affairs :: University of Virginia
, Silver Star
, Legion of Merit
with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross
, Air Medal
, and the Army Commendation Medal, with two oak leaf clusters.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
four star general who served as Deputy Commander in Chief, United States European Command
United States European Command
The United States European Command is one of ten Unified Combatant Commands of the United States military, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Its area of focus covers and 51 countries and territories, including Europe, Russia, Iceland, Greenland, and Israel...
(DCINCEUR), from 1966 to 1973.
Biography
Burchinal was born in Washington, PennsylvaniaWashington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
, in 1915. He received his bachelor of arts degree in 1938 from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He entered pilot training at Randolph Field, Texas, in June 1939, and graduated in 1940 with a commission as second lieutenant and his pilot wings. In June 1965 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws degree by Brown University. In August 1968 Burchinal was presented an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
at England's Cambridge University.
His first military assignment was as an observer of Army field exercises at Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia. He then became an instructor at Brooks Field
Brooks City-Base
Brooks City-Base was a United States Air Force facility located in San Antonio, Texas, southeast of Downtown San Antonio.In 2002 Brooks Air Force Base was renamed Brooks City-Base when the property was conveyed to the Brooks Development Authority as part of a unique project between local, state,...
, Texas. From May 2, 1940, until July 28, 1941, Burchinal served successively as an engineering officer, transport pilot, test pilot, and assistant adjutant at the San Antonio Air Depot, Duncan Field, Texas.
He then assumed duties as aide to the commanding general of the Air Service Command at Patterson Field, Ohio, in Washington, D.C., and in London, England. In February 1943 Burchinal became operations officer and later, deputy commander for the 330th Bombardment Group at Alamogordo, New Mexico
Alamogordo, New Mexico
Alamogordo is the county seat of Otero County and a city in south-central New Mexico, United States. A desert community lying in the Tularosa Basin, it is bordered on the east by the Sacramento Mountains. It is the nearest city to Holloman Air Force Base. The population was 35,582 as of the 2000...
, and Biggs Field, Texas.
Remaining at Biggs Field, he was reassigned in July 1943 to the XX Bomber Command as assistant A-3 for the 16th Bombardment Operations Training Wing. He was on this job only six months when in December 1943 he was named military air attaché at Ottawa, Canada.
Culminating six months of attaché duty, Burchinal returned to the U.S. in June 1944 for duties as Wing A-3 at Headquarters 313th Bombardment Wing, Peterson Field
Peterson Field
Peterson Field is a public-use airport located three nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Plains, a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. It is privately owned by G. Thomas Peterson.- Facilities and aircraft :...
, Colorado.
Six months later he was en route to the Pacific area as A-3 for-the 313th Bombardment Wing based on Tinian
Tinian
Tinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.-Geography:Tinian is about 5 miles southwest of its sister island, Saipan, from which it is separated by the Saipan Channel. It has a land area of 39 sq.mi....
. He later became deputy chief of staff for operations of the wing and in March 1945, became deputy A-3 Headquarters XXI Bomber Command on Guam in the Marianas Islands. In September 1945 General Burchinal became A-3 for the Twentieth Air Force
Twentieth Air Force
The Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
and, in November the same year, assumed duties as military analyst, U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey in Tokyo, Japan. One month later he returned to the United States.
He stayed with the War Department in Washington, D.C., until June 1946, working as research analyst, U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey, and then moved to Maxwell Field
Maxwell Field
Maxwell Field was the football stadium located behind the former location of Louisville Male High School, 911 S. Brook St., Louisville, Kentucky, 40203 which was bounded by the streets of Brook, Breckinridge, Floyd, and Caldwell streets in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1984 a double murder known locally...
, Alabama, as student and instructor on the first faculty of the Air War College
Air War College
The Air War College is a part of the United States Air Force's Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Air University's higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The Air War...
. He later became assistant chief of the air strategy division in the Air War College, a job he held until called back to Washington, D.C., in March 1949.
Upon his return to Washington, D.C., Burchinal became chief of the Program Analysis Division in the Directorate of Program Standards and Cost Control in the Office of the Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. In April 1951 he was transferred to the Air Force Council, also in Washington, D.C., as the first secretary of the unit.
Two years later, in May 1953, he went to Smoky Hill Air Force Base, Kansas, as commander of the 40th Bombardment Wing. In January 1954 he moved to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
Davis–Monthan Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located within the city limits, and approximately south-southeast of downtown, Tucson, Arizona....
, Arizona, as commander of the 43d Bombardment Wing. In August 1955 Burchinal became chief of staff for Headquarters Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, Strategic Air Command, Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts.
In November 1958 Burchinal returned to Washington, D.C., as deputy director, J-3 (Operations), for the Joint Staff in the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Force and was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, as deputy director of plans in September 1960, advanced to the director of plans in January 1961, and became deputy chief of staff for plans and programs in August 1962. He held this position, which was later redesignated deputy chief of staff for plans and operations, until February 1964. He then became director of the Joint Staff
Director of the Joint Staff
The Director of the Joint Staff is a three-star officer who assists the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with the management of the Joint Staff, an organization composed of approximately equal numbers of officers contributed by the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, who have been...
, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Burchinal assumed duties as deputy commander in chief, U.S. European Command in July 1966 and served in that capacity until he retired from the Air Force on March 1, 1973. He died on August 17, 1990.
Audio File: http://128.143.21.78/exhibits/tonkin/audio/NMCC_vn_01_10.wav
The Gulf of Tonkin, 1964
Perspectives from the Lyndon Johnson and National Military Command Center Tapes
Presidential Recordings Program
Miller Center of Public Affairs :: University of Virginia
Awards and decorations
Burchinal's awards and decorations included the Air Force Distinguished Service MedalAir Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
, Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
, Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
, and the Army Commendation Medal, with two oak leaf clusters.
Air Force Distinguished Service MedalAir Force Distinguished Service MedalThe Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United States)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters