Frank Raymond Burgess was born on August 14, 1917.  Mr. Burgess has a long history with the Consolidated Patrol Bomber PBY-5A. He finished his flight training at NAS Pensacola, FL, and received his wings on May 29, 1942. During flight school, he learned how to fly the P2Y-2, P2Y-3, and PBY-2. After graduation, he was supposed to join the Patrol Bombing Squadron Eighty Three, but they had already departed for war. Thus, Mr. Burgess was placed on the USS Nitro, an ammunition ship from WWI, with the remainder of the Eighty Third squadron, and rejoined with the rest of his squadron in Natal, Brazil in August, 1942. Mr. Burgess’ squadron was in charge of patrolling convoys there were going to Europe and Africa via the Southern Route, i.e. from the Panama Canal, through the Caribbean, around the northern tip of South America, and then across the Atlantic to either the Mediterranean or the African Coast. Frank Burgess retired from the Navy at the rank of Chief Naval Aviation Pilot. He passed away on January 16, 2007.

Link to Descriptive Finding Guide.