Col. Berton H. Burns’ distinguished career with the Air Force began in the China, Burma, Indian theater with the 40th Bomb Group. His work with the Manhattan Project started with an assignment with the 58th Bomb Wing on Tinian Island, and as a senior pilot with the 509th Composite Group. Following the war, Burns participated in Operation Crossroads, the name given to the first testing of nuclear weapons in history, before being named commander of the 813th Strategic Aerospace Division.