Burnett Neal Jr is among the 27,011 American Gold Star casualties recorded in our archive with close ties to Texas. This is a substantial number of individuals who gave their lives in service to their country.

ORIGINS
Burnett Neal Jr was born on October 12, 1930. According to our records Texas was his home or enlistment state and Dallas County included within the archival record. We have Dallas listed as the city.

SERVICE
He had enlisted in the United States Air Force. Entered the service via Regular Military. Served during the Vietnam War. He began his tour on August 24, 1966. Neal had the rank of Major. His military occupation or specialty was Pilot. Service number assignment was O-30386. Attached to 7th Air Force, 14th Air Commando Wing, 4th Air Commando Squadron, 1st Special Operations Group, 1st Special Operations Wing.

CASUALTY
During his service in the Vietnam War, Air Force Major Neal was reported missing and ultimately declared dead on April 26, 1967. Recorded circumstances attributed to: Hostile Died While Missing, Air Loss Crash - Land, Fixed Wing - Pilot. Incident location: South Vietnam, Khanh Hoa province.

DETAILS
Burnett Neal Jr was a native of Dallas. He had attended Carrollton High School and was graduated from North Dallas High School in 1948. He received a bachelor of business administration degree from Southern Methodist University in 1952 and a master of business administration degree in 1966. He spent 15 years in the Air Force and had been stationed at Nah Trang Air Force Base in Vietnam since August 1966.

He was on the crew as Aircraft Commander of the flight of the AC-47D #43-48921 when they crashed into the sea off the coast at Cam Ranh Bay due to what was likely an on-board flare discharge.

INCIDENT
We identified 7 casualties in our archive that might be related to the #43-48921 incident on April 26, 1967.
◼Clifford C Barnett Jr :: Pilot
◼Fred E Barnette :: Aircraft Maintenance
◼Robert W Davis :: Aircraft Maintenance
◼Burnett Neal Jr :: Pilot
◼Thomas A Preaux :: Air Crewman
◼Michael J Stephens :: Air Crewman
◼Bruce R Williams :: Pilot

REMEMBERED
Burnett Neal Jr is buried or memorialized at Laurel Land Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas.
Burnett is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington DC. Name inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 18e, Line 96.

COMMENDATIONS
★ Air Medal
★ Purple Heart
★ United States Aviator Badge Air Force
★ National Defense Service Medal
★ Vietnam Campaign Medal
★ Vietnam Service Medal
★ Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
★ Vietnam Gallantry Cross
★ Air Force Good Conduct Medal

Neal Killed In Vietnam Air Crash

Maj. Burnett Neal Jr., 36, of 3046 Rotan Lane was among 45 U.S. servicemen recently killed in action in Vietnam, the Defense Department announced Tuesday.
Maj. Neal, a 15-year Air Force veteran, was killed April 26 when the AC47 plane he command crashed 22 miles south of Nahtrang AFB, the Defense Department said.
He said his crew had been assigned to drop flares and provide air cover for U.S. ground forces.
Formerly with the Strategic Air Command, Maj. Neal had been in Vietnam since August.
He was a flight commander in the 4th Air Commando Squadron at Nahtrang AFB.
A Dallas native, he was graduated from North Dallas High School was received a business degree from Southern Methodist University n 1952.
He was a member of Delta Sigma Phi social fraternity and Walnut Hill Methodist Church.
Survivors: Wife; a son, Vance Rowland Neal of Dallas; a daughter, Miss Nancy Jeanette Neal [see notes below] of Dallas, and father, Burnett Neal of Belton.
Funeral arrangements were pending.

Notes:

• The obituary indicates his daughter is Nancy Jeanette Neal.  Nancy is actually his wife.  His daughter if Mary Kay Neal.  Bo went to North Dallas High School his senior year and graduated there. He received his BS and MBA from SMU.
• Several CHS students were transferred to North Dallas High School.  We are listing them with the CHS class they would of graduated with had they stayed.
• Submitted by Charline (Cox) Shehane

Maj. Neal's Funeral Set On Saturday

Funeral services for Air Force Maj. Burnett Neal Jr., 36, of 3046 Rotan Lane, who was killed in a plane crash in Vietnam April 26, was held at 2 p.m. Saturday in Laurel Land Funeral Chapel. Burial was in Laural Land Memorial Park.

Maj. Neal was a native of Dallas. He had attended Carrollton High school and was graduated from North Texas High School in 1948. He received a bachelor of business administration degree from Southern Methodist University in 1952 and a master of business administration degree in 1966.

Maj. Neal spent 15 years in the Air Force and had been stationed at Nah Trang Air Force Base in Vietnam since August, 1966. He was a commander of an AC-47 aircraft that crashed on a mission to drop flares and provide close air cover for U.S. ground forces. He had previously served in the Strategic Air Command.
Maj. Neal had received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, two Air Force Commendation Medals, the Senior Mission Badge and the Air Medal, several Oak Leaf clusters.

Survivors include his wife, son, Vance Roland Neal, a daughter, Miss Mary Kay Neal [see notes above], of Dallas; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Burnett Neal of Belton; a brother, Charles Mayo Neal of Dallas and a stepbrother, Bonner Gar??? Jr. of Freeport.

The Dallas Morning News - May 12, 1967
also in The Carrollton Chronicle
Submitted by Edward Lynn Williams

Submitted by Edward Lynn Williams