Taylor G. Burke, Jr. collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 16.0010

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection is centered around a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot in the 35th Squadron of the 64th Troop Carrier Group. He was involved in the European- African- Middle Eastern campaign in Rome, Italy and Operation Dragoon in Southern France. This collection contains special orders, yearbooks, certifications of flight training, letters between the pilot and his family and friends, photos from Italy, France, and Puerto Rico, portraits in uniform, pamphlet for soldiers describing the famous monuments and history of Rome, Italian theatre programs, flight logs, checks, manuals, and charts, an original personnel file, various pins and medals, and maps of the Mediterranean theatre.

Dates

created: 1943-1945
Other: Date acquired: 05/18/2016

Creator

Burke, Taylor G., Jr., 1922-2015 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Taylor G. Burke, Jr. was part of the 64th Troop Carrier Group in the Army Air Force. He was born December 21st, 1922 in Norfolk, Virginia. He joined the Aviation Cadet College Deferment Program in 1942 before enrolling at The Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) studying engineering, but was called into Army Air Corps service in 1943. He attended basic training in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and was further trained as a twin engine pilot at George Field in Illinois. In July 1944, Burke was shipped out to Ciampino, Italy, carrying supplies and wounded troops, and moved to Operation Dragoon in southern France and various regions of Italy in 1944 and early 1945. In May of 1945, he was awarded an Air medal for meritorious achievement in the Mediterranean theater. In the same month, he left the European theater for Puerto Rico, where he flew troops and supplies between the Caribbean and Miami. He was honorably discharged in November of 1945. He continued in the AF Reserves after earning his B.S. in Engineering from Auburn. He passed away August 28th, 2015.

Note written by Jill Szaroleta