S.A. Military Aviation Pioneer Dies

(EXCERPT) Burwell One Of First To Use Cockpit Instruments

Posted: 3:00 p.m. CDT June 30, 2003

SAN ANTONIO -- Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. James Burwell, one of the
first military aviators to fly using cockpit instruments, died
recently at age 100.

Burwell was trained in instrument flying at the Army Air Corps' Kelly
Field, later Kelly Air Force Base, and he later devised courses to
teach others.

"Back in the early '30s, the Air Force hadn't learned how to fly with
instruments," Jim Keck, a retired Air Force lieutenant general and a
longtime Burwell friend, told the San Antonio Express-News. "First
they had to convince pilots they needed instruments and could trust
them.... (Burwell) was a pioneer."

A native of Tarboro, N.C., Burwell died on June 25, less than two
weeks before his 101st birthday. His wife, Marcine, said he was alert
and in good health until he suffered a stroke three months ago.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1956, Burwell traveled the w...

U.S. and friendly nation laws prohibit fully reproducing
copyrighted material. In abidance with our laws this report
cannot be provided in its entirety. However, you can read it
in full today, 30 Jun 2003, at the following URL. (COMBINE
the following lines into your web browser.) The
subject/content of this report is not necessarily the
viewpoint of the distributing Library. This report is provided
for your information and discussion.

http://www.clickonsa.com/ant/news/st...30-150643.html

---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com