Ernest Leroy Burdge – Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force

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Ernest Leroy Burdge Jr., 90, an Air Force pilot and Defense Department intelligence analyst, died of complications of prostate cancer August 31, 2006, at Howard County General Hospital. He lived in Columbia, Maryland.

Burdge, a native of Minneapolis, served in the Army Air Forces during World War II, flying 30 missions in a B-17 bomber and 40 missions in a P-51 fighter in 1944 alone. He received three Distinguished Flying Crosses for his wartime service and participated in the Berlin Airlift after the war.

He remained in the Air Force until 1963, serving in England, France, Germany and Libya and at numerous posts in the United States. He retired in 1963.

Burdge moved to Laurel and worked as an intelligence analyst for the Defense Department until 1980, when he retired again. He moved to Columbia in 2002.

He was a member of the Gunpowder Golf Club and the Elks Club.

His wife of 53 years, Mary Jane Hasler Burdge, died in 1998.

Survivors include four children, Geoffrey Burdge of Merritt Island, Fla., Ernest Burdge of Churchville, Pa., Stephanie Diamond of Redding, Calif., and Melissa Garbowitz of Encino, Calif.; a sister; and four grandchildren.

BURDGE, ERNEST LEROY, JR.
On August 31, 2006, ERNEST L. BURDGE, JR. of Columbia, MD has passed away peacefully. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Mary Jane. He is survived by his sons Geoff and wife Barbara, Ernie and wife Lori; and his daughters Stephanie Diamond and husband Mark, Melissa Garbowitz and husband Gary. Friends may call the St. Phillips Episcopal Church, in Laurel, MD on Friday, September 8 at 11 a.m. Interment Arlington National. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123 or at www.cancer.org

BURDGE, ERNEST LEROY JR

  • LT COL   US AIR FORCE
  • DATE OF BIRTH: 12/09/1915
  • DATE OF DEATH: 08/31/2006
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 9  SITE 5846E-LH
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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