The Association has learned of the death of Cdr Michael Seymour Burnett AFC RN on 7 June 2014.
Memorial Service will take place at 2pm on Wednesday 30 July 2104 at St Bartholomew’s Church, RNAS Yeovilton.
Published in the Somerset County Gazette on 19 June 14
BURNETT Commander Michael Seymour Burnett AFC Royal Navy, of Fosgrove, passed away on 7th June 2014. Private funeral. Memorial service at St Bartholomew’s RNAS, Yeovilton. Date to be announced. Donations for the Royal British Legion (Dunkirk House) and St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice may be sent to the Funeral Directors Nigel K Ford, 45 Station Road, Taunton, TA1 1NZ
From Records
1 FTS Linton-on-Ouse 1964
705 NAS Wings course 1964
706 NAS AFT 1964-65
737 NAS Portland 1965
820 NAS EAGLE 1965-67
CFS RAF Tern Hill 1969 QHI training
706 NAS as QHI 1969 – 71
824 NAS ARK ROYAL 1971-72
737 NAS Portland as QHI 1972 – 73
Standards Flt (RW) Culdrose 1974 – 75
826 NAS as Training Officer TIGER 1975 – 77
705 NAS as Senior Pilot 1977 – 79
820 NAS as Senior Pilot BLAKE, HERMES, INVINCIBLE 1979 – 81
Culdrose CFI and Chief Instructor 1981 – 83
Standards Flt (RW) as Commanding Officer 1984 – 85
810 NAS as Commanding Officer Culdrose, ENGADINE, ARGUS 1985 – 87
FONAC RW Training Desk 1987 – 89
HMS CENTURION FAA Drafting Commander 1988
From References
Whilst flying Wessex XP144 of 737 Squadron Portland on 8 July 1965 suffered engine failure in the hover at 35ft, ditched and rolled to starboard 8.9 m off Portland, Mid MS Burnett injured; Mid MJ Barry, Lt AA Suggitt & AB Jeffers picked up by Penelope.
OBITUARY
How to quantify the pedigree of a man is usually a challenge, but in the case of Commander Mike BURNETT, that which jumps out is a life of achievement both as a man and as a top FAA helicopter pilot. Mike was a person with true pedigree who had time for people. That he blended it with modesty personified served to further enhance his standing. Put another way, he was never overtly proud, always a good example and always scrupulously fair.
Michael Seymour Burnett, was born as a man of Gloucestershire on 1st Aug 1944 into a Naval family, his father was Captain W.B. Burnett. Mike was a proud Bristolian, educated at Colston’s School, a prestigious boys’ only school, until girls were admitted shortly after he had left. This amounted to Mike’s first ‘near miss’ others were to follow!
Conscious of the Life / Career / Love balance, Mike breezed through aircrew selection and battled through BRNC, the highlight when as a young Midshipman he found himself with the bell of the summer ball on his arm, Carolynne, later to become his wife. Clearly he was already showing the attributes of a smooth FAA officer in the making.
Flying training followed. Oddly, and surely for the only time in his life, one report stated ‘he must guard against overconfidence’. All were unanimous, however, that he was an above average pilot with immense potential. Mike was one of 4 Midshipmen and 4 S/Lts awarded wings in Feb 1965, to go front line in August. .
His helicopter flying was exhilarating and varied. There are notable examples of ‘excitement’ secreted in his log book: In July 1965, an early mission, towards the end of Operational Training, reads: ” Anti submarine – Casex A17” , followed by the single word ‘DITCHED’. As a 20 yr old Midshipman first pilot of an anti submarine Wessex Mk1 he was engaged hunting a submarine some 4 miles south of Portland Bill. Losing an engine in the hover resulted in the inevitable ‘splash’ into the sea. Having already a reputation for being cool in a crisis his actions were on the money; all the crew escaped and were safely rescued. This amounted to a second near miss.
Front line service was immediate. A pier head jump from training to 820 Squadron (1965-1967) onboard the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle was coupled to the dizzy heights of being promoted SubLt. Back-to-back frontline appointments saw Mike join 819 in (1967-69) based at Ballykelly, Northern Ireland. Mike’s high ability as a pilot had long since been reported, so it was no surprise that as one of the ‘top-guns’ of the time he became an instructor. Interspersed with more frontline time he excelled in the teaching role where his calm and reassuring manner brought the best out of students and other front line pilots alike.
Remembering, however, that some things come in threes! After converting to a new aircraft, the Sea King Mk1, Mike joined 824 in March 1971. Later that year he was first pilot in an exercise operating from HMS Ark Royal; ‘torpedo drops’ into the Moray Firth. So it was in Sept 71 in the hover over the sea an engine failed, and he ‘DITCHED’, again! The ‘mayday’ was heard by a distant and fast closing submarine. Cool, calm and collected, Mike was holding the aircraft on the surface of the sea whilst explaining to the submariner that he had just ditched two torpedoes! Aviators and submariners always get on socially, but this was neither the time nor the place, a few garbled transmissions came from the well-meaning submariners as they beat a frantic retreat. Mike briefed his crew that he was going to attempt the first ever water take-off for a Sea King helicopter. He gave permission for the crew to abandon aircraft but they all elected to stay with him. Not for the last time Mike displayed the best of piloting skills to water taxi and for the first time, successfully lift the Sea King Mk1 from the sea to fly back to land safely on HMS Ark Royal. His log book entry simply states: ‘Torpedo Drops and water takeoff’. Hence, Near miss No.3. His ‘tongue in cheek’ reward came a week later with a certificate from his CO proclaiming him to be ‘proficient in the anti-submarine role’.
A bigger reward was round the corner when on 30th Dec 1972 Mike and Carolynne married in their local church in Gloucestershire. A good naval aircrew turn-out with swords aloft, ensures memories live on.
Mike’s career moved onwards and upwards in Boys Own fashion, he swiftly became the FAA’s Chief Helicopter Instructor followed by the CO of an elite aircrew team in charge of helicopter flying standards in the Fleet Air Arm.
The top job in all flying careers is always to be a Squadron CO in this case it was 810NAS (11/85-1/88) responsible for Operational Flying Training, an appointment in which he excelled as a leader and instructor. Epitomised by a quote: “But of a good leader, who talks little, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say, ‘We did this ourselves’.”
It was during the excitement of this Command appointment that a young blade entered the world; MARK, their only child was born.
Formal recognition followed for his outstanding contribution to naval aviation, he was awarded the Air Force Cross in Dec 1987. Some of the supporting evidence is embedded in his impressive flying statistics:
Flown 8 aircraft types and 13 Mks, mostly military helicopters, amassed 6002.35hrs, including 2890 transitions, 2 ditchings into the sea and 1 water take off and recovery.
Mike was among the youngest and best pilots in his time but inevitably and reluctantly, Mike had to leave the cockpit after being promoted Commander. So, after various desk jobs, based in Yeovilton and finally as the FAA Drafting Commander, HMS CENTURION in Portsmouth, he retired from the RN in Aug 1994.
As with many retirees from the services a second career followed in a more family friendly position. Diligent as ever, Mike served as a key Civil Servant and PRO for The Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, based in Taunton. It was a position ideally suited to his abilities, promoting the future of the Reserve Forces, liaising with Tri-Service personnel and their civilian employers. He finally retired due to poor health early in 2014.
Suffice to say that once retired he fought tenaciously against brain cancer and bravely appeared on TV in support of St Margaret’s Hospice, an establishment that had cared for him so excellently. He articulated their case immaculately. As always he was inspirational. His last days were spent in the equally excellent Royal British Legion, Dunkirk Memorial House, Taunton.
A private funeral was held on 25th June in the Lady Chapel of St Mary Magdalene Church, Taunton. Subsequently, on 30th July a Memorial service was held in the FAA Church, St Bartholomew’s conducted by Revd Martin EVANS and attended by a large gathering of family, friends and FAA colleagues. Readings were given by Mark BURNETT (Mike’s son), the first Tribute address by by Dr Cdr Ivor MILNE (Mike’s ex SOBs 810), followed by Brigadier Tony DALBY-WALSH (Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadets Association), Mike’s second career Commanding Officer.
St Bart’s was full to the gunnels, even extending into the gallery. From a FAA perspective it was pretty much a ‘who’s who’ of the FAA during the 1960 – 80’s plus some. Top of the batting order was the Adm of the Fleet Sir Ben Bathurst who twice served with Mike during the 60’s, once as his SP820 and then as CO819. Commodore Jamie MILLER represented the SW Region and Commodore Simon THORNWILL who presided over Mike’s time in command of 810 NAS (OCP (or OFT in old-speak), attended in the dual role of ‘guardian of the venue’ and as a close friend of the family. As happens on such occasions, overwhelming support came from ex uniformed personnel: aircrew, a couple of ‘fisheads’ and a few notable ‘pongoes’ from Mikes second career, all of whom converged on Yeovilton from all over the UK.
As can be expected on such occasions the mix of sadness and reunion banter combined to make the Yeovilton wardroom reception memorable and an undeniable testimony to the high esteem in which Mike was held by all those fortunate enough to have who served with him.
Commander Michael Seymour BURNETT AFC RN died on 07 June 2014. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, Carolynne Burnett and son Mark.
Obituary presented by Dr. Commander I.G. Milne RN MBE Rtd.
With grateful thanks from Elizabeth, Carolynne Burnett and Mark Burnett.