Clinton D. Burdick

Clinton DeWitt Burdick (July 26, 1924 – February 17, 2013) was an American flying ace in the 356th Fighter Group during World War II. He was the son of American World War I flying ace Howard Burdick, who was credited with eight aerial victories.

Early life Burdick was born in 1924 in Brooklyn.

Military career He was influenced by his father to enlist in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces, which he did on October 21, 1942. He did his basic training in Fort Worth, Texas, where he flew BT-13s and proceeded with advanced training, where he trained on the AT-6. On March 12, 1944, Burdick was commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings at Foster Field in Texas. After graduation, he attended aerial gunnery school on Matagorda Island, where he flew the P-40 Warhawk.

Flying P-47 Thunderbolts, Burdick flew his first combat mission on November 6, 1944, and in the same month, the 356th FG converted to P-51 Mustangs. While flying the P-51, he scored his first aerial victory on December 5, when he shot down a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 and damaged another Fw 190 northeast of Berlin. On January 14, 1945, 356th FG's P-51s encountered 15 to 20 Fw 190s, southwest of Dümmer Lake. During the aerial battle, Burdick shot down two Fw 190s and damaged another two.

Congressional Gold Medal (2015)