# Henry Lardner-Burke > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Henry_Lardner-Burke > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Henry_Lardner-Burke.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Lardner-Burke > Source revision: 1352011954 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) South African flying ace of World War II Henry Patrick Lardner-Burke Nickname Pat Born (1916-06-27)27 June 1916 Harrismith, Orange Free State Died 4 February 1970(1970-02-04) (aged 53) Branch Royal Air Force Rank Wing Commander Commands No. 1 Squadron RAF Conflicts World War II Awards Distinguished Flying Cross and bar **Henry Patrick Lardner-Burke** [DFC](/source/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_Kingdom)) (1916-1970) was a South African [flying ace](/source/Flying_ace) of World War II, credited with 7.5 'kills'.[1] Spitfire flown by Lardner-Burke Enlisting in the Royal Air Force, he started light training in early 1940. In 1941 he was posted to [19 Squadron](/source/No._19_Squadron_RAF), after which he joined [46 Squadron](/source/No._46_Squadron_RAF) in May 1941. In June 1941, the squadron moved to [Malta](/source/Malta). On 8 November 1941 hit by a 12.7 mm round just behind left armpit, after leaving most of itself inside, it came out about quarter inch from his left nipple, it pierced the armour plating of his Hurricane BD789 behind. He was hit and shot down from close behind at an angle by a [Macchi](/source/Aermacchi) fighter. He tried to bail out, but failed and managed to land safely in Malta.[2] The injury was serious and put him out of the action for several months. His DFC citation reads:[3] In November 1941, this officer was the pilot of one of 4 aircraft which engaged a force of 18 hostile aircraft over Malta and destroyed 3 and seriously damaged 2 of the enemy’s aircraft. During the combat Pilot Officer Lardner-Burke, who destroyed 1 of the enemy’s aircraft, was wounded in the chest and his aircraft was badly damaged. Despite this, he skillfully evaded his opponents and made a safe landing on the aerodrome; he then collapsed. Throughout the engagement, this officer displayed leadership and courage of a high order. He has destroyed 5 enemy aircraft over Malta. In May 1942 he joined Gunnery Instruction Training Wing until March 1943, when he received new posting to [222 Squadron](/source/No._222_Squadron_RAF) as a Flight Commander. On 27.8.43 he claimed 1-0-1 Fw 190 on 18.30-20.10 sortie flying Spitfire MH434/ZD-B. He was flying as Red 3 and at first damaged one, later shot down [Focke-Wulf](/source/Focke-Wulf) that crashed near [Audruicq](/source/Audruicq). F/O Hasselyn (Blue 3) claimed Fw 190 destroyed 10–15 m N. of [Guînes](/source/Gu%C3%AEnes) flying MH428 and F/O [Otto Smik](/source/Otto_Smik) (Red 4) flying MH430 claimed the third as destroyed and his pilot bailed out. That Focke-Wulf attempted to attack Burke. We know, that 8./JG 26 lost two Fw 190s with both pilots bailed out successfully. On 8 September he was flying as Blue 1 and with F/O Smik (Blue 2, MH390) attacked leading enemy [fighter aircraft](/source/Fighter_aircraft). It was seen to crash S.E. of [Boulogne-sur-Mer](/source/Boulogne-sur-Mer) by P/O T. Willie (Blue 3, MH491). They both claimed Me 109F destroyed. We only know that JG 26 loss doesn't fit in time and place. The same situation was with two Focke-Wulfs. In April 1944, he was appointed Officer Commanding of [No. 1 Squadron RAF](/source/No._1_Squadron_RAF) and in December 1944 of [RAF Church Fenton](/source/RAF_Church_Fenton)[2] He was awarded a bar to his DFC in February 1945.[4] ## Post war After the war he moved to the [Isle of Man](/source/Isle_of_Man) and died in 1970.[2] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-AcesHigh_1-0)** Shores, C; Williams C (15 July 2008). *Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots*. Grub Street. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-898697-00-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-898697-00-8). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SAMILHIST_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SAMILHIST_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-SAMILHIST_2-2) ["FLT LT HENRY 'PAT' LARDNER-BURKE DFC & BAR"](https://samilhistory.com/tag/flt-lt-henry-pat-lardner-burke-dfc-bar/). Retrieved 8 May 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Delve_3-0)** Delve, Ken (2017). *Malta Strikes Back: The Role of Malta in the Mediterranean Theatre 1940–1942*. Pen and Sword Aviation. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1473892446](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1473892446). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Issue 36931](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36931/supplement/817/data.pdf) *The London Gazette* p. 817 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Henry Lardner-Burke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Lardner-Burke) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Lardner-Burke?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.