John Joseph Burkett
Corporal John J. “Jack” Burkett was a Marine Corps aviator who flew with VMF(N)-531.
His PV-1 Ventura disappeared on a training flight near Guadalcanal, 16 September 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 370661
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
July 11, 1917
at Philadelphia, PA
as “Jack Nita”
Parents
Isabelle “Belle” (Maley) Burkett
Carl Perry Burkett (stepfather)
Bio father, Lawrence Nita (d. 1938)
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Bethlehem Steel Corporation
Service Life
Entered Service
March 20, 1942
at Baltimore, MD
Home Of Record
12 Flagship Road
Dundalk, MD
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Isabelle R. Burkett
Military Specialty
Aerial gunner
Primary Unit
VMF(N)-531
Campaigns Served
—
Individual Decorations
—
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Jack Burkett joined the Marine Corps on 20 March 1942 from a recruiting station in Baltimore. After completing boot camp at Parris Island, Burkett was sent to aviation gunnery school in Jacksonville, Florida. After additional training as a radioman, he deployed to the Pacific Theater with VMF(N)-531 – one of the first Marine night fighter squadrons to see active duty.
On 16 September 1943, Corporal Burkett and his crewmates – First Lieutenant John E. Mason in the pilot’s seat and Staff Sergeant Ralph W. Emerson on the radar – took PV-1 #29755 “Coral Princess” out of the Russell Islands for a training flight over Guadalcanal. An air alert forced the cancellation of the exercise, and the two planes aloft were vectored back to base.
Lieutenant Mason’s plane reported a position approximately 12 miles south of Tulagi, and acknowledged a request to rendezvous east of the Russell Islands. Suddenly, all communications with “Coral Princess” stopped. The Ventura never returned to base. Extensive searches proved fruitless and the entire crew was declared dead on the day of the incident.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Isabelle Burkett.
Location Of Loss
Last reported position of “Coral Princess,” about 12 miles south of Tulagi.
