Career
Burton joined the Royal Air Force in 1937. During the Second World War he served as a pilot with Number. 215 Squadron and then Number.
149 Squadron before being shot down over the Black Forest and taken prisoner of war.
He escaped from Germany and later in the war he was appointed Officer Commanding Number. 242 Squadron and then Number.
238 Squadron. After the war he was seconded to the Indian Air Force before becoming Group Captain responsible for Organisation at Headquarters Royal Air Force Bomber Command in 1958 and then Station Commander at Royal Air Force Scampton in 1960.
He was made Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Number. 3 Group in 1963, Air Executive to the Deputy for Nuclear Affairs at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in 1965 and Air Officer Commanding Number.
23 (Training) Group in 1967. He went on to be Air-Officer-Commanding-in-Chief of Royal Air Force Air Support Command in 1970, in which capacity he opened the now disbanded Southend Aircraft Museum, and Air Officer Commanding Number.
46 Group before retiring in 1973.
